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Near-Peer Tutoring in an ESOL Music Project

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

This article describes how near-peer tutoring was used to foster a supportive, learner-centered environment in an adult ESOL setting. Students from beginning and advanced classes worked together to learn a song to perform at a year-end ceremony. The task involved vocabulary, pronunciation, intonation, and comprehension. Benefits of the music project included building relationships, breaking the routine, and lowering students’ affective filters. The project allowed the adults to be self-directed, empowered them to critique themselves, and gave them a sense of accomplishment.

Classroom Activities

In: English Teaching Forum 2012, Volume 50, Number 2 Format(s): Text

Three stand-alone language-learning activities related to the theme of spring.

Word Bricks- Describe and Guess

In: Activate: Games for Learning American English - Word Bricks Format(s): Text

In Describe and Guess, players take turns selecting a Word Brick and then describing one of the words on the brick without saying the actual word. Download the game and instructions!

To Correct or Not Correct? Ideas for Subtle Error Correction During Speaking Tasks

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

This webinar presents techniques designed to correct students’ grammar without interrupting the free flow of speech or the lesson.

Tasks for Integrating Language and Culture Teaching

In: English Teaching Forum 2013, Volume 51, Number 2 Format(s): Text

This article discusses the role of culture in language teaching and provides activities for introducing culture in the classroom, focusing on teaching context and methodology to integrate culture. The authors outline five activities that can be adapted to the language level and interests of students. Instructions for each activity include language points and intercultural points.

Turning Logic-Grid Puzzles into a Communicative Activity

In: English Teaching Forum 2022, Volume 60, Number 4 Format(s): Text

The author, Gavin Young, offers a detailed guide showing how to create custom-made logic-grid puzzles and how to present and use them in class to promote learners’ speaking, listening, and thinking skills. The author uses an original puzzle he created as a working example throughout the article.

Hidden Pictures: An Integrated Speaking and Listening Activity

In: English Teaching Forum 2024, Volume 62, Number 3 Format(s): Text

Author Heather Gaddis provides a detailed, step-by-step description of an original activity in which students examine and describe pictures that are similar to one another. The author includes suggestions for adapting the activity for different purposes and for integrating themes—which teachers can choose—into the activity for targeted practice.

VoIM-Mediated Cooperative Tasks for English Language Learners

In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 4 Format(s): Text

This article discusses how computer-mediated communication, negotiation of meaning, and cooperative task-based learning can be combined in a VoIM-mediated activity to benefit language learners. The author starts with a brief review of how the three aspects of learning can benefit language learners. The author then describes a VoIM-mediated cooperative task. The rest of the article explains how to set up the activity, including technical requirements, planning in eight stages, and materials selection.

Picture This – Same & Different

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

Same & Different provides students with the opportunity to use their background knowledge about the items on the 'Picture This' cards to create descriptions that compare and contrast two items on a card.

Picture This – Guess Which Challenge