Forum 52, Number 1 Cover
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English Teaching Forum 2014, Volume 52, Number 1
Birds are the subject of the feature article, Classroom Activities, and The Lighter Side in this issue.

Articles by contributors explore integrating the Internet into English language teaching, dynamic activities for song in the EFL classroom, digital stories, and back translating.

Format: Text
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Table of Contents

CALL Me … Maybe: A Framework for Integrating the Internet into ELTExpand

This article outlines reasons to use (or not use) the Internet in English language teaching, exploring the Internet as tutor and tool. Discussion of Internet content includes types of content and how to select, save, and use content. Various learning tasks, appropriate even for those without Internet access, are presented and highlighted in a table.

Author: George M. Chinnery
Format: Text
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Beyond the Gap Fill: Dynamic Song Activities for Song in the EFL ClassroomExpand

This author presents variable and stimulating activities using songs to encourage students to connect with language. Seven dynamic activities include Song Pictures, Re-order It, Matching Meanings, Changing the Text, Song Strip Connections, Song Cards, and Pair Watching. All are outlined to facilitate their use, and many have added extensions and variations.

Author: Nico Lorenzutti
Format: Text
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Digital Stories: A 21st-Century Communication Tool for the English Language ClassroomExpand

Digital storytelling can motivate and engage students and create a community in the classroom. This article lays out a 12-week digital storytelling project, describing the process in detail, including assessment, and pinpointing issues and challenges as well as benefits the project affords English language students.

Author: Kathy Brenner
Format: Text
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Back Translating: An Integrated Approach to Focus Learners' Attention on Their L2 Knowledge GapsExpand

Integration of the four language skills can be enhanced by focusing on back translating—translating an English text into the students’ first language and then back into English. This article describes a three-step process for using back translation in reading classes as a way to help students identify gaps in their English competence.

Author: Yun Zhang and Cun Gao
Format: Text
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Birding—Fun and ScienceExpand

This feature article presents the basics of birding, or bird watching, and discusses its appeal, especially to serious birders. A section on “citizen scientists” explains organizations that collect data on birds and describes projects they organize. Other sections discuss the legacy of John James Audubon and the bald eagle.

Author: Phyllis McIntosh
Format: Text
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Classroom ActivitiesExpand

This section presents three stand-alone English language-learning activities related to birds.

1. “Wild Goose Chase,” for beginner and intermediate students, will energize the classroom and allow students to practice teamwork and prepositions of location.

2. “A Bird Parable,” for upper intermediate and advanced students, encourages students to practice critical and creative thinking skills, explore inter-relationships between animals and people, and write a parable.

3. “Birds Are People, Too,” for intermediate to advanced students, lets students practice writing creative definitions and teaches them bird/people vocabulary.

Author: Kevin McCaughey
Format: Text
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The Lighter Side: "Bird Logic"Expand

This puzzle invites users to compare bird facts and use logic to determine the secret numbers assigned to ten birds.

Format: Text
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International Subscriptions: English Teaching Forum is distributed through U.S. embassies. If you would like to subscribe to the print version of English Teaching Forum, please contact the Public Affairs or Cultural Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy in your country.

U.S. Subscriptions: English Teaching Forum is exempted from the Congressional restriction on distribution of Department of State-produced materials in the United States. U.S. residents who want to order the printed edition can order from the U.S. Superintendent of Documents.