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Weaving the Web into an EAP Reading Program

In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 2 Format(s): Text

The authors share their experiences developing Internet reading activities for their students in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program. The authors chose reading material found on the Internet that was authentic, up-to-date, and would increase student interest and motivation to learn English. The authors share practical considerations as well as their experience adapting laboratory activities to increase student autonomy along with other lessons learned in the process of using Internet reading materials.

Guess What? Guess the Topic

In: Activate Games for Learning English - Guess What? Format(s): Text

In Guess the Topic, the Describer says the six words below the topic, slowly, one at a time. The Guessers try to guess the topic after each word is read.

Motivated to Work: The Power of Choice Boards

In: English Teaching Forum 2023, Volume 61, Number 4 Format(s): Text

Teaching Technique

Using Letters to Tell Stories in the EFL Classroom

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

This article discusses how letter writing can be used as authentic language use. An activity for beginners involves an exchange of letters of introduction between the instructor and students. This serves a socially meaningful interactional purpose. The second activity is the construction of an story, one in which the plot is expressed in a series of letters. The writer suggests using letter exchanges for this creative writing project after using books such as The Color Purple. Letter writing is one way to enable and empower students to tell their own stories.

Authentic Video in the Beginning ESOL Classroom: Using a Full-Length Feature Film for Listening and Speaking Strategy Practice

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

Using film in the classroom can be effective with beginning English learners. A full-length film offers continuous context to discuss humor, culture, and language functions, real-life communication with images and non-verbal cues, increased retention due to activating the right hemisphere of the brain, and the lowering of students’ affective filters. The authors include a lesson based on their experience teaching listening and speaking skills using the movie “What about Bob.” Assessment techniques and potential problems are considered.

Keeping Discipline in the Classroom

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

This article discusses the challenges of keeping order in the classroom and provides suggestions for fostering an environment of mutual respect. The article looks at what students expect of teachers as well as temporary games and long-term strategies that students use to take control from the teacher. Some practical solutions to discipline problems include keeping students’ attention, establishing clear rules together, and addressing discipline problems by using nonverbal and verbal cues before reacting to the problem.

Maximizing the Benefits of Project Work in Foreign Language Classrooms

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

There are many benefits to using project work in the classroom, such as student autonomy, increased content knowledge, and motivation. This article gives ten steps for structuring project activities to maximize these benefits, using a case study on project-based learning in an English preparatory program in Turkey. Also included are recommendations for writers on how to include project-based learning in their materials.

Laugh and Learn: Thinking Over the "Funny Teacher" Myth

In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 1 Format(s): Text

The author in this article presents laughter and fun as an important part of a language classroom. The author suggests that when you laugh you learn better. Humor is introduced as a way to increase motivation and decrease anxiety. The author defines the “funny teacher” as a serious professional who uses humor to provide students with an enjoyable journey through learning. Activities are suggested for increasing fun and learning in the language classroom.

Guess What? Guess the Words

In: Activate Games for Learning English - Guess What? Format(s): Text

In this game, the topic of the Guess What? card is given. Then the Guessers race to call out as many words that appear on the card as possible in 1 minute.

Harmonious Learning: Yoga in the English Language Classroom