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Who are we?
Our names are Gail and Joe Crossman. We are ESL instructors with MAs in
TESL working at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada. We have traveled extensively, and before starting work here in
2002, we taught in South Korea for six years. It was during our time in
South Korea when we invented ‘The Question Box’. We have found that it
is an amazing teaching and learning tool that both teachers and
students enjoy. We use it every day in our classes and our students
have
used it at home and everyone says they love it.
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The books listed here on our website
were written here in Canada. We have used them in our
classes here at Saint Mary’s University. They help the students to
understand how to write, as well as a lot of useful vocabulary. On top
of that, many students say the books are both entertaining and
educational.
If you have any questions about us, our website, or our products,
please contact
us.
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What is the
Question Box?
The
Question Box is
a great teaching and learning tool for ESL students. It is a set of
questions that gives students conversation ideas, and gets them to
expand their communicative ability by getting them to talk about a
variety of topics. We ship each set that you purchase right to your
email inbox where you are free to print them off on regular paper, or
on suggested business card paper, and then start practicing lots and
lots of conversations.
We
have been using it for many years with great success. We know it works
and we know it can help anyone who wants to learn how to speak and
converse in English. If you have any questions about this product, then
please contact
us.
How does it
work?
A
student with a
partner chooses a question and then asks his/her partner. The partner
must listen closely and then respond. If the partner can not understand
the question, then the questioner must ask it again more carefully.
After the partner answers, then the questioner should ask a follow-up
question for more information. This will keep the conversation going.
Keep asking and keep talking. Eventually, the partners can switch roles
and the partner can ask the original questioner the same or a different
question. Here is an example below:
Questioner: Where are you from?
Partner: Pardon? I didn’t
understand your question.
Questioner: Sorry. Where, or
what city, are you from? Where do you come from?
Partner: Oh, I come from Tokyo.
The
conversation can continue with further questions asking for more
details and expanding the topic to such things as favorite things about
your hometown, places you and your friends hang out at, and best places
for shopping.
By
using this product we have seen quiet students with low ability change
dramatically and start having English conversations which can last for
over an hour. We often have to tell our students to stop talking
because they have so much fun that they don’t notice that the class is
over.
As
well, the Question Box can also be used in groups, for reading,
writing, and listening practice. There are instructions in each box to
help you understand how to use each box. If you have any questions or
confusion, the please contact
us.
What do
people think of the Question Box?
"I think it
is a great tool that can be used in every class and by every student.
Try it and you will love it, too". - Peter
"It really helped my English improve a lot, and it was really fun". -
Sammy
"You don’t have to think up lots of different activities everyday,
because the Question Box is different every time, just like a
conversation with a friend is different". - Andrea
"I used it at school, and then I bought one for my family back in
Korea. Now we are all improving". - Ji Hoon
"Students really respond when given different questions. It inspires
them to try harder and learn more". - Donny
"I learned a lot about English, and I had a great time. When I was
young, I thought all English classes were boring, but the Question Box
changed my mind". - Xiang |
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