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1. Getting Students Into Impromptu Groups and Pairs for Collaborative Learning - Part 1

   In: Teacher's Corner: Classroom Management Format(s): Text

   Group and pair work provide students frequent opportunities to practice using English with a variety of people in a lower-stakes setting.

2. A View of the Past: The First Decade (1963 - 1972)

   In: English Teaching Forum 2002 (Volume 40, Number 1) Format(s): Text

   “A View of the Past” is a special edition article that reflects major trends in English Language Teaching over the past 40 years. Included are four excerpts from the first decade of Forum. The excerpts include games for various classroom levels, intended for motivating language practice. There are guidelines for a conversation class, including emphasis on the atmosphere and enthusiasm, as well as understanding language change and the idea of a humanistic approach.

3. The Relevance of Literary Analysis to Teaching Literature in the EFL Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article presents a review of six approaches to teaching literature based on the author's and his colleagues' experience. It looks at the theoretical bases of these six approaches and discusses the pros and cons of using literature in the English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classroom. The six approaches are evaluated based on the core principles of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT). This article discusses the benefits of combining literary works with communicative activities and student motivation.

4. VOA Podcast: Making of a Nation: The Heart of the Constitution

   In: VOA Podcasts: Shows in Special English Format(s): MP3, Text

   From Voice of America Podcasts in Special English. Take a look at the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Download the MP3 or listen online.

5. The Power of the Picture Book

   In: English Teaching Forum 2020, Volume 58, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   The author shares techniques for using picture books—starting with the cover and moving on through the illustrations and text—to engage children and get them thinking and talking.

6. Teaching Story without Struggle: Using Graded Readers and Their Audio Packs in the EFL Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2013, Volume 51, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   The authors developed the Bimodal Narrative Approach (BNA), which expands the extensive reading approach by adding listening activities. The authors, who used this approach with teacher trainees, outline the use of a graded reader novel and audio pack in BNA reading and listening classes. Video-based activities and evaluation are also discussed.

7. Ready-to-use Methodology Materials: Breaking the Teacher-Fronted Cycle in the Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This article describes the use of loop input and reflective journals to create a more effective way of teaching and preparing teachers of English-as-a-second-language in Slovakia. The authors of this article, who are also the designers of the technique, discuss how they handled challenges to the course, which included poor student motivation and attendance, and students who expect a teacher-fronted classroom rather than a learner-centered one.

8. A View of the Past: The Third Decade (1983 - 1992)

   In: English Teaching Forum 2002, Volume 40, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article reflects on the articles published at the third decade of Forum (1983-1992) to present theoretical perspectives and classroom practices discussed in the past ten years. It addresses four articles which focus on the communicative approach and related concepts, such as authentic use of the target language, learner-centered activities, and group work.

9. The Gift of the Magi

   In: The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories Format(s): Text

   The story of the Gift of the Magi describes a couple who go to great lengths to buy each other a special Christmas present.

10. The Use of Ethics in the EFL Classroom

    In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 4 Format(s): Text

    If students are not meeting their goals, it may be that the reason is non-linguistic. Motivation is an important factor that teachers need to consider. The writer argues that carefully chosen ethics cases can motivate timid students to speak out by removing their fear of making mistakes and by encouraging them to talk about heart-felt beliefs. Since ethics cases may not have clear right and wrong answers, this sets them apart from other discussion topics. Debate will foster critical thinking skills.

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