Cover photo of Forum
Expand
English Teaching Forum 2013, Volume 51, Number 4
Boats are the focus of the feature article, Classroom Activities, and The Lighter Side in this issue.

Articles by contributors discuss cultural awareness in the English language classroom, English for Specific Purposes, designing test-preparation classes, and cooperative classroom management.

Format: Text
Availability

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.

Table of Contents

Raising Cultural Awareness in the English Language ClassroomExpand

This article discusses how teachers can incorporate cultural knowledge into English language classes, exploring elements of culture, intercultural phenomena, and high-context and low-context cultures. Activities offered by the author to raise cultural awareness include web quests, role plays, cultural observations, and culture journals.

Author: Jerrold Frank
Format: Text
Availability

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.

English for Specific Purposes: Negotiating Needs, Possibilities, and PromisesExpand

The authors espouse the need for negotiation in designing and delivering English for Specific Purposes (ESP) programs. Such negotiations take into account learners’ needs as well as structural limitations of the context and candid assessment of ESP providers. The article explores lessons from the field and the importance of needs analysis.

Authors: Spencer Salas, Leonardo A. Mercado, Lynn Hanson Ouedraogo, and Bernadette Musetti
Format: Text
Availability

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.

Teaching Beyond the Test: A Method for Designing Test-Preparation ClassesExpand

Test-preparation classes that focus on skills will benefit students beyond the test by developing skills they can use at university. This article discusses the purposes of various tests and outlines how to design effective test-prep classes. Several practical activities are included, and an appendix provides information on common standardized tests of English.

Author: Deirdre Derrick
Format: Text
Availability

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.

Minimizing the Chaos through Cooperative Classroom ManagementExpand

This article discusses techniques for organizing large classes to allow smooth transitions from whole-class discussions to individual and group work. Topics discussed include how to form groups, keeping track of groups, using colors to organize students, setting expectations, and establishing consequences.

Author: Gena Rhoades
Format: Text
Availability

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.

Boats, Boats EverywhereExpand

Boats are the subject of this feature article, which explores such topics as the age of steamboats, commercial boats, recreational boats, boating vocabulary, and the Mississippi River in American literature.

Author: Phyllis McIntosh
Format: Text
Availability
Classroom ActivitiesExpand

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

  1. “Going to School by Ferry boat,” for upper beginner and intermediate students, allows learners to practice listening to language about an everyday routine and to learn transportation vocabulary.
  2. “Classifying Boats,” for intermediate students, teaches learners about boat types and their features and helps them develop classifying skills and write a classifying essay.
  3. “Mapping the Mississippi River,“ for intermediate students, provides practice with vocabulary related to boats and rivers.
Authors: Carol Chapelle, Jooyoung Lee, Hye-won Lee, Moonyoung Park, Manman Qian, and Amy Walton
Format: Text
Availability

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.

The Lighter Side: Rock the BoatExpand

This puzzle requires unscrambling the names of various boats and using designated letters to solve a riddle.

Format: Text
Availability

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.