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1. English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 4

   Format(s): Text

   Chicago is the focus of the feature article and the basis of a lesson plan that provides practice in writing and reading postcards. This issue also includes articles on enhancing learning with mobile phone technology, VoIM-mediated cooperative tasks, and corpus-aided discovery. Additional articles discuss critical media literacy and ideas for incorporating an intercultural approach into EFL teaching.

2. English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 3

   Format(s): Text

   This issue rounds up articles with a number of teaching ideas. Features include the uniquely American sport of rodeo and an integrated skills lesson plan for "Just off Main Street" by Elmaz Abinader. Other articles explore the areas of critical thinking, writing for extensive reading, developing pragmatic competence, teacher assessment, and keeping discipline in the classroom.

3. English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 4

   Format(s): Text

   This issue showcases the U.S. National Park System. The feature article is coupled with a lesson plan on environmental preservation or “going green.” Other articles cover replacement performance role-plays, the paradigm shift from paper-and-pencil tests to performance-based assessments, using story-based frameworks, microteaching for non-native speaking teacher trainees, and open classroom communication centered on civic education.

4. How to Set Up Oral Homework: A Case of Limited Technology

   In: English Teaching Forum 2010, Volume 48, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses the benefits and challenges of having students complete oral homework as a way to practice speaking skills. The author explains the technology necessary as well as steps to follow when using this type of homework when designing a course. Also provided is a detailed list of assignments that can be completed orally (as an individual or in a group) and how a teacher can give feedback on this work and keep records.

5. Some Suggestions for Academic Writing Instruction at English Teacher Training Colleges

   In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This article presents practical suggestions and tasks to make it easier to teach second language academic writing at the college level. It discusses the necessity of a warm-up period in which learners produce first drafts in pairs or small groups and do peer error correction. The article offers tasks such as reacting to an academic review, comparing two academic articles, and summarizing academic articles.

6. English Magazines = Motivation + Improved ESL Writing Skills

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

   Creating and editing a magazine in English is a challenging and motivating type of portfolio assessment. It encourages student fluency and freedom by allowing students to choose their own topics for writing. It is real communication for a real audience and requires students to take responsibility for their own writing. It can also make the teacher’s job more enjoyable. The article describes a magazine-editing project for an intermediate university writing class. The students performed well on the national writing examination.

7. Reciprocal Teaching: A Useful Tool in Increasing Student-Talking Time

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

   Reciprocal Teaching (RT) can be used to increase student talk time and improve communicative competence. This strategy uses paraphrasing, reported speech, question formation and concept-checking to promote dialogue. As students move from short responses toward longer conversations (or language for transactional purposes), their fluency and retention increase. These “long turns” provide important practice. The author also emphasizes the importance of prompts for lower-level students. The article includes examples of each strategy as well as several axioms of reciprocal teaching.

8. Language Teaching through Critical Thinking and Self-Awareness

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

   This article contains a wealth of activities that will help students develop critical thinking skills. These fun and dynamic activities raise students’ self-awareness regarding their perceptions, assumptions, prejudices, and values. The author addresses the teacher's role in helping students think differently and consider ideas from multiple points of view. To encourage critical thinking, assessment should not rely on summary and definition questions, but those that require analysis, hypothesis, and evaluation. A rationale for the importance of critical thinking is provided from a cognitive perspective.

9. Building Consensus on Teacher Assessment

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

   This article proposes a collaborative workshop for teachers and teacher trainees to identify their preferred methods of Teacher Assessment (TA).TA refers to the evaluation of teachers. Some examples are observation by colleagues or supervisors, videotaping class, and feedback from students. The pros and cons of various TA instruments and formats are discussed, including how threatening they are perceived to be. Participants also consider what should be included in their professional portfolio. It can be rewarding to involve stakeholders in the process.

10. On Native Language Intrusions and Making Do with Words: Linguistically Homogeneous Classrooms and Native Language Use

    In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 4 Format(s): Text

    Should L1 use be avoided in an EFL context, where classrooms tend to be linguistically homogeneous and where students have little opportunity to use English outside the classroom? This article reviews research on native language use in the classroom, how it is used (or not used), and the effects. It addresses topics such as impact on learning, teacher guilt, “covert use,” affective and processing benefits, validating the students’ own language, and solidarity with the instructor. The author concludes that a trend toward what Atkinson calls “judicious use” is reasonable.

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