The many years of teaching have led me to believe that  educators need to widen the lens beyond core academics, beyond teaching the language for the sake of  language.  I have been influenced by Howard Gardner, Sir Ken Robinson, and Carol Dweck to name just a few, advocating that educators need to  engage students’ talents and energies and release their potential so that they  go home feeling they have made a difference. Academic achievement is stressed at the expense of communication, teamwork, interpersonal, initiative, athletics, organizational or creative minds skills and talents. The various articles I contributed in the world of TESOL  look at teaching from a variety of perspectives. I touch on the day to day teaching issues but I also write about projects and activities which put talents on the pedestal and give students hope and belief in themselves  to use in all other parts of their lives.