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1. Dynamic Ways to Increase Student-to-Student Interaction

   In: American English Webinars Format(s): Text

   This session, “Dynamic Ways to Increase Student-to-Student Interaction,” explores options for promoting student-to-student interaction in the EFL classroom through a variety of exciting, easy-to-adapt games and activities. By the end of the session, participants will be able to create more energizing and engaging lessons that motivate students and increase their confidence, regardless of class size or level!

2. Alternatives to Classroom Debate

   In: American English Webinars Format(s): Text, Video

   This session, "Alternatives to Classroom Debate," explores the limitations of the traditional classroom debate format and introduces several alternatives ELT educators can use to cultivate the 21st-century skills their students need to discuss challenging topics.

3. Creating Positive Attitudes Towards English as a Foreign Language

   In: English Teaching Forum 2006, Volume 44, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   The author reviews research on the connections between attitudes and language learning, and between attitudes and motivation. The article suggests that language learners’ motivation and attitudes can influence learning outcomes, and that effective teaching can change negative attitudes. It describes a classroom action research project that was carried out among 95 students in Turkey to examine attitudes and motivation for English learning. Results and possible factors are discussed with regard to the students’ attitudes and motivation.

4. Student-Centered Teaching in Large Classes with Limited Resources

   In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   The authors shares suggestions for instructors who teach large classes (from 50-80 students) with minimal resources. The challenges of managing the classroom, using pair and group work effectively, and working with limited resources are addressed. The authors suggests ways to take attendance quickly, to reduce written work to grade, to start and stop communicative activities, and to keep motivation high when students work at different speeds. Suggestions were tested by action research. Two classrooms are described.

5. SWELL: A Writing Method to Help English Language Learners

   In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   Social-interactive Writing for English Language Learners (SWELL) is collaborative writing based on Topping’s Paired Writing Method. The method was changed to meet the needs of English language learners. In both methods, pairs are formed according to proficiency, pairing a more advanced student (a Helper) with a less advanced one (a Writer). The author describes the steps of generating ideas, drafting, reading, editing, best copy, and evaluating. Features of SWELL include using students’ linguistic knowledge (L1), balancing fluency with mechanics, and promoting explicit teacher instruction.

6. Rock and Roll English Teaching: Content-Based Cultural Workshops

   In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This article considers content-based cultural workshops. With a focus on cultural content and a relaxed, engaging atmosphere, students practice language and cooperative learning strategies. The author describes the process of developing such a workshop as an extracurricular activity for a large, mixed audience. The article details an example interactive workshop on rock and roll and includes an appendix of useful websites related to the topic.

7. Board Game: Name 3

   In: Activate Games for Learning American English: Board Games Format(s): Text

   The board game Name 3… gives students a variety of prompts to talk about things they know about.

8. Board Game: Use a Word

   In: Activate Games for Learning American English: Board Games Format(s): Text

   This board game provides students with a specific word they should try to use in a sentence. Download the game, instructions, and game variations.

9. Morning Discussion as a Communicative Activity

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

   This article describes freshman university students in China. They started their day with Morning Discussion, a student-hosted discussion of relevant topics. BBC and VOA reports were useful sources. The discussions offered opportunities for negotiation, clarification, and building communicative competence. As students took responsibility for the topics, classroom set up, and participation, their confidence grew. This was very successful, as shown by comments in students’ weekly diaries. Instructors stayed out of debates and did not interrupt to offer corrections.

10. Stimulating Writing through Project-Based Tasks

    In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 4 Format(s): Text

    As students often see writing in any language as a challenging task, it can be hard to encourage motivation to practice writing in the language-learning classroom. This article offers project-based tasks as a way to motivate students with relevant and interesting topics. The author discusses the principles of project work and explains the process approach to composition, followed by detailed lesson plans for writing a problem/solution essay and the expected outcomes of this project.

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