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1. From da Vinci to Recumbent... Velocity and the Velocipede

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This reading on bicycles is appropriate for intermediate to advanced students. The author traces the history of the bicycle back to the nineteenth century and describes major innovations in the technological development of bikes. Modern bicycle technology and impacts are also discussed. The article presents the etymology of the word bicycle and then offers translations into other languages, illustrating that in many cases a relationship to the root of the original word remains. Additional websites of interest are also included for further reading or follow up activities.

2. The Lighter Side

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

   The Lighter Side in this issue has three parts. “Scrambled Energy Words” is an unscrambling-the-words activity using vocabulary related to energy. “Energy Jokes and Puns” has jokes related to energy, and “Energy Idioms” contains idioms related to energy.

3. The Cask of Amontillado

   In: Edgar Allan Poe: Storyteller Format(s): MP3, Text

   The text and audio of this story in Edgar Allan Poe: Storyteller are about a man named Montresor who wants to commit revenge against his "friend" Fortunato. Luring the wine-loving Fortunato with the promise of tasting the rare and fine wine Amontillado, Montresor leads him down beneath his palace into the bowels of the earth.

4. Learn English Activity: Taking the TOEFL 101

   In: VOA Classroom Activities Format(s): Website

   TOEFL 101. Tips on taking the Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Learn about the test and tips on taking the TOEFL.

5. VOA Podcast: Words and Their Stories: Dog Talk

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

   From Voice of America Podcasts in Special English. Americans use many expressions with the word dog. Learn about their love for the animal and how they use the word. Download the MP3 or listen online.

6. The Lighter Side: Silent Letters

   In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   “Silent Letters” expands on the silent “K” in knitting, giving students practice with silent letters. The activity requires students to fill in missing words from a dialogue on the topic of knitting. Some letters of the missing words are provided.

7. The Lighter Side: A Jumble Garden Activity

   In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This activity, called Jumble Garden, requires students to unscramble letters to make words. The definitions of the 14 scrambled words are provided to aid the students in unscrambling the letters.

8. The Lighter Side

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This "Lighter Side" begins with a contest to name a Jazz song. The answer is "Georgia On My Mind." Although there is an American state called Georgia, Georgia is the name of a girl for whom the song was written in 1930. In the second section of "The Lighter Side," definitions and uses of the word Jazz are given.

9. The Open Boat

   In: The Red Badge of Courage and Other Stories Format(s): Text

   In this story from The Red Badge of Courage, four men struggle to survive in a dinghy off the coast of Florida.

10. The Lighter Side of TEFL: Crossword Puzzles

    In: The Lighter Side of TEFL, Volume 1 Format(s): Text

    This section of The Lighter Side of TEFL focuses on crossword puzzles, a challenging word game in which students must decide which word satisfies the clue and fits the number of available spaces.

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