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Columbus Day

In: Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.A. Format(s): Text

Columbus Day is a legal federal holiday that commemorates the first voyage of Christopher Columbus, who sailed west from Spain in 1492 and reached the islands of present day Bahamas.

Flag Day

In: Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.A. Format(s): Text

National Flags are not merely symbols of a country; their colors and designs convey past history and future goals.

Introduction

In: American Teens Talk! Format(s): E-book, Text

The interviews in American Teens Talk! give learners a view into the lives of adolescents in the U.S. Through the written and audio format of the interviews, learners are able to increase their vocabulary, practice their reading and listening skills, engage in discussions, and learn more about U.S. culture.

Health and Fitness

In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 2 Format(s): Text

The theme of health offers a variety of language-learning possibilities. This three-part lesson plan for young learners can be adapted to other audiences. It includes a reading, a dialogue, and a listening script. The first lesson asks learners to analyze lifestyle choices and give advice. The second lesson takes students to a sporting goods store, where they consider the language they need to talk with a sales clerk. The third lesson is about food choices, including ways to prepare foods. A follow-up activity researches how a famous athlete stays healthy.

Lesson Plan: Baseball Stories, Cards,and Interviews

In: English Teaching Forum 2010, Volume 48, Number 3 Format(s): Text

This lesson plan offers an opportunity for students to practice their language skills and learn more about the sport of baseball. There are three activities (that will take at least one class period each) aimed at a variety of levels. Students create baseball cards of themselves and flash cards about the sport, and participate in interview role-plays as famous baseball players. Extension activities are included.

Just Off Main Street

In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 3 Format(s): Text

“Just off Main Street” is for learner use and is an account of the writer’s experience as an Arab American. It opens with a description of the writer’s childhood and the cultural divide between life inside and outside the home. Readers will be drawn into the vivid description of daily life. The article looks at the challenges of being bi-cultural, of keeping home life separate, of being “exoticized,” of becoming comfortable and proud of one’s heritage, and of finding community. The article provides opportunities for discussions of culture, identity, and activism.

Houseboats

In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 2 Format(s): Text

This lesson uses a text about the houseboats of Kashmir to give students practice with descriptions, compound words, and participles. The lesson plan could be adapted to tourist destinations familiar to the students. Students are asked to write a description of their homes and create a tourism brochure for their own cities or towns.

Poems Made Into Songs

In: Poetry Format(s): MP3

Students from all over the world participated in poetry writing to celebrate National Poetry Month. Three of the poems were then made into songs! Listen to them or download the MP3s here!

A Postcard from America

In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 1 Format(s): Text

This feature article for learner use is by author Robert Olen Butler. It briefly describes the history and cultural aspects of postcards. The author provides detail about several postcards in his personal collection. He values the images and the glimpses into people’s lives as written on the postcards. A glossary of terms and images of postcards accompany the article. Appropriate for high intermediate to advanced students.

Wordscapes

Format(s): Image / Poster / Maps

Wordscapes is a collection of ten full-color illustrations of American landscapes, including the forest, plains, desert, and more.

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