English Teaching Forum Volume 50 Number 4
Expand
English Teaching Forum 2012, Volume 50, Number 4
The final issue in the 50th anniversary series. Contributor articles discuss “The Teaching Toolbox,” online learner dictionaries, and getting teens to work in class...

Contributor articles discuss “The Teaching Toolbox,” online learner dictionaries, and getting teens to work in class. “Teaching Communication” and “Communication Practice vs. Pattern Practice” (1971) lead off the “Reflections” section, which also explores “Essentials for the Teacher’s Toolbox” with articles on “Your Most Essential Audiovisual Aid—Yourself!” (1981), “The Neglected Tools Can Work for You” (1975), and “Getting the Most Out of the Dictionary” (1974). Photos and Classroom Activities feature autumn themes.

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

The Teaching Toolbox: Reconciling Theory, Practice, and Language in a Teacher Training CourseExpand

Noting the challenge teachers in English as a Medium of Instruction contexts face in balancing content and language instruction, the author explains a teaching toolbox technique and outlines toolbox activities that include jigsaw reading, word bank, jigsaw vocabulary, and graphic organizers.

Author: Amber Vanderwoude
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.

Online English-English Learner Dictionaries Boost Word LearningExpand

This article suggests that English language learners can benefit greatly from using learner dictionaries that are corpus-based, supply word frequency data, and offer collocation guides, authentic examples, and topical vocabulary. The author discusses teacher applications for each dictionary feature.

Author: Ulugbek Nurmukhamedov
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.

Getting Teens to Really Work in ClassExpand

This article explains the brain development and behavior of teenagers as well as their special needs. The authors offer English language learning activities that meet the need for physical movement, social interaction, and reduced stress.

Author: Patricia Lauría de Gentile and Ana María Leiguarda de Orué
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 Communication: Back to the 60sExpand

This piece, a preface to a reprinted 1971 article on communication practice, focuses on the need for real communication in the language classroom.

Author: Adrian Palmer
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.
 

Communication Practice vs. Pattern Practice or A Live Teacher Is Absolutely NecessaryExpand

This article, originally published in 1971, posits that the main goal of language learning is communication and that classroom work should concentrate on developing students’ communication skills. Communication-practice drills are presented and discussed.

Author: Adrian Palmer
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.

Essentials for the Teacher's ToolboxExpand

This introduction to three reprinted articles identifies tools, such as visual aids and dictionaries, used by effective teachers.

Author: Jennifer Uhler
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.
 

Your Most Essential Audiovisual Aid - Yourself!Expand

Acknowledging that an interested and enthusiastic teacher can create excitement for students and promote learning, this article (reprinted from 1981) offers concrete suggestions for the teacher to be a “visual aid” and an “audio aid” in the classroom.

Author: Elizabeth Hamp-Lyons
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. Sup

The Neglected Tools Can Work for YouExpand

This article (reprinted from 1975) offers ideas about using visual aids in the language classroom and includes specific suggestions for using such things as blackboards, flip charts, magazines, and language films.

Author: Mac M. Ramirez
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.

Getting the Most Out of the DictionaryExpand

Inspired by questions from language teachers, this discussion of dictionaries (reprinted from 1974) explores their utility in determining pronunciation, meaning, and points of grammar and makes recommendations about the kind of dictionaries teachers should use with their students.

Author: Albert H. Marckwardt
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.

Fall PhotosExpand

“Fall Photos” is a series of photos with captions. The pictures can be used as writing or discussion prompts.

Format: Image / Poster / Maps
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

Classroom ActivitiesExpand

This section presents two stand-alone language-learning activities with an autumn theme.

1. “How Are You, Jack-o-lantern?” is designed for students at the Upper Beginner level and can be used to build vocabulary related to emotions and encourage conversations based on them.

2.”The Incredible Shrinking Dialogue,” for students at the Upper Intermediate level and above, teaches students to analyze a text to find the most important ideas and gives students practice in paraphrasing, speaking, and performing.

Author: Jennifer Hodgson and Kelli Odhuu
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: "Listen Up!"Expand

This activity sheet presents a listening exercise based on rhymes.

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.