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1. 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.

2. Using a Case Study in the EFL Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2019, Volume 57, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   Case studies give students the opportunity to put their knowledge (including their English skills) to use in solving a problem and/or taking action about an issue. The author provides specific advice and works through a sample case study.

3. The Lighter Side: Sixty Years

   In: English Teaching Forum, Volume 60, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   Can you unscramble the words associated with events that have taken place in the six decades since Forum was first published? And can you put those events in the order in which they occurred?

4. Articles: Using Comics in the Classroom

   In: Why English? Comics for the Classroom Format(s): Text

   In these two English Teaching Forum articles, learn how to use comic strips in the English language classroom and how to encourage student storytelling through sequential art.

5. More Articles: Using Comics in the Classroom

   In: Why English? Comics for the Classroom Format(s): Text

   One of these two English Teaching Forum articles is about how to make teaching materials more interactive and learner-focused. The second article is a detailed classroom activity about creating comics.

6. Group Dynamics: Belonging in the ESL Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2017, Volume 55, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   The author provides suggestions for English language activities that promote bonding at the beginning of a course, during a course, and at the end of a course.

7. The Lighter Side

   In: English Teaching Forum 2017, Volume 55, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This puzzle gives you a chance to transform the word note to the word song, one letter (and one word) at a time.

8. The Happiness Game: A Board Game for Almost Any Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2023, Volume 61, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   Daniel Clausen created The Happiness Game in part because he believes that “teaching should be a happy profession and that students should come out of the classroom with a smile.” The article includes a game board and sample game cards—although teachers and students are encouraged to create more of their own. The game is adaptable for multiple learning levels and is designed to give students practice in English … and, of course, to make them happy.

9. The E-pet: Enhancing Motivation in E-portfolios

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   The authors wanted to make EAP portfolios more engaging and personal for students, so they introduced an e-pet to accompany the online portfolio program. The e-pet (much like a tamagotchi) grows from an egg into adulthood when the students interact with it through portfolio submissions. Teachers reported that students were enthusiastic about the e-portfolio and the e-pet. Student questionnaires showed a similar trend, with several students saying that the e-pet made the portfolio project motivating. The article includes directions for e-portfolio design.

10. Constructivism in Theory and in Practice

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

    The article describes the change in teacher training from instructivist to constructivist. The author defines constructivism and discusses its two main approaches: cognitive and social constructivism. The author then compares an instructivist versus a constructivist classroom and focuses on how they are different in terms of the level of flexibility. The author describes how an in-service teachers’ workshop successfully transformed. Benefits discussed include positive learning experience and the wash-back effect on pedagogy. (This article quotes theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, and Krashen.)

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