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Using Teacher-Developed Corpora in the CBI classroom

In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 2 Format(s): Text

This article argues for the use of teacher-generated corpora in content-based courses. Using a content course for engineering and architecture students as an example, the article explains how a corpus consisting of texts from textbooks and journal articles helped students learn grammar, vocabulary, and writing. The article explains how the corpus was compiled and presents examples of how students learned to analyze language use using corpus tools and dictionaries. The article ends by emphasizing the advantages of corpus analysis for self-directed learning.

The Conversation Class

In: English Teaching Forum 2012, Volume 50, Number 1 Format(s): Text

This article discusses conversation classes, drawing from the author’s experience teaching Persian ESL. The author offers eight guidelines for effective teaching: cultivate a relaxed atmosphere (with six suggestions for doing this), be alert and foster alertness, be enthusiastic and engender enthusiasm, be patient, be sensitive, think, listen, and make corrections. The article finishes with a number of suggested topics and activities for promoting conversation.

Western Culture and the Teaching of English as an International Language

In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 2 Format(s): Text

This article considers the role of culture in the teaching of English as an International Language. There are differing views on whether to include cultural topics in the teaching of English. Educational leaders in some countries have voiced concern over a form of colonization that occurs when Western culture is presented as better than the students’ local culture. The article examines ways that approved textbooks from Chile, Morocco, and Japan present Western values and characters, and suggests that texts could present more characters from countries where English is a second language.

Lesson Plan: Using Journalism Skills in the Language Classroom

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

This lesson plan contains four activities based on the theme of newspapers and journalism. It includes a lesson to familiarize students with newspapers, journalistic writing, interviewing, and creating a class newspaper. The activities can be used as individual lessons or a larger project of creating a class newspaper.

Tools for Activating Materials and Tasks in the English Language Classroom

In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 4 Format(s): Text

This article presents techniques to make classroom materials and tasks more interactive and student-centered and thus motivate learners to take more control over their own learning. It demonstrates these techniques through elicitation, gapping, and adaptation/extension strategies. The article offers examples of classroom activities with detailed instructions to show how teachers can use materials and tasks in the English language classroom to address students’ interests, needs, and goals.

Open Classroom Communication and the Learning of Citizenship Values

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

This article discusses the importance of fostering citizenship values in language classrooms around the world, and specifically in Morocco. Class content, student-teacher roles, classroom activities, and teacher education can promote civic values of equality, respect, responsibility, tolerance, and compassion. A learner-centered environment where there is group work, open communication, and participation, models these values. By including cultural content and engaging students with meaningful issues, teachers can increase interest and motivation.

The Challenge and Opportunity of Technology: An Interview with Mark Warschauer

In: English Teaching Forum 2002, Volume 40, Number 4 Format(s): Text

This article shares an interview conducted with Mark Warschauer, vice chair of the Department of Education at the University of California and a faculty associate at the university’s Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations. Warschauer shares his thoughts on different topics in second/foreign language learning and teaching and evaluates the future of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) with Forum readers.

Methodology in the New Millennium

In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 4 Format(s): Text

Rodgers discusses what directions English language teaching might take in the new millennium. His ten paths are: (a) student-teacher matching, (b) combination of popular methods, (c) the reimagining of curricular development, (d) a more basic content-based teaching approach, (e) use of the multiple intelligences model, (f) a return to function and genre, (g) learner strategy training, (h) lexical chunks, (i) the expansion of definitions of language, and (j) adoption of a fuller understanding of communication.

Shall We Dance: Team Teaching as Supervision in the English Language Classroom

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

This article compares team teaching to a dance in which leadership shifts from partner to partner. It argues for the use of team teaching as an effective and motivating means of professional development. The author shares his experience in team teaching and offers a list of steps that can be used to establish and maintain team teaching that is effective for both the professionals and their students, such as when to involve students and when to trade roles.

The Mini Conference: Creating Localized Opportunities for Professional Development