Advanced Search: Resources

1. Dynamic Ways to Increase Student-to-Student Interaction

   In: American English Webinars Format(s): Text

   This session, “Dynamic Ways to Increase Student-to-Student Interaction,” explores options for promoting student-to-student interaction in the EFL classroom through a variety of exciting, easy-to-adapt games and activities. By the end of the session, participants will be able to create more energizing and engaging lessons that motivate students and increase their confidence, regardless of class size or level!

2. Identifying Our Approaches to Language Learning Technologies: Improving Professional Development

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

   This article emphasizes Warschauer's Model, explaining the three positions that researchers working in the field of language technology are concerned about: determinist or technophobe and technophile, instrumental, and critical. The article discusses the importance and application of Warschauer’s Model to professional development, offering ideas for activities and lesson plans related to each position held.

3. Lesson Plan: Greetings from Sunny New Mexico

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   The New Mexico lesson plan for this issue is a self-contained 1 1/4 to 2 hour lesson with a complete pre- during- post framework for interacting with the main text - a letter from a friend living in New Mexico. The focus here is on the vocabulary and grammar of description (e.g., words for scenery and weather, relative "that" clauses). Extension activities are provided for multi-session lessons (e.g., written response, class survey).

4. SWELL: A Writing Method to Help English Language Learners

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

   Social-interactive Writing for English Language Learners (SWELL) is collaborative writing based on Topping’s Paired Writing Method. The method was changed to meet the needs of English language learners. In both methods, pairs are formed according to proficiency, pairing a more advanced student (a Helper) with a less advanced one (a Writer). The author describes the steps of generating ideas, drafting, reading, editing, best copy, and evaluating. Features of SWELL include using students’ linguistic knowledge (L1), balancing fluency with mechanics, and promoting explicit teacher instruction.

5. Rock and Roll English Teaching: Content-Based Cultural Workshops

   In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This article considers content-based cultural workshops. With a focus on cultural content and a relaxed, engaging atmosphere, students practice language and cooperative learning strategies. The author describes the process of developing such a workshop as an extracurricular activity for a large, mixed audience. The article details an example interactive workshop on rock and roll and includes an appendix of useful websites related to the topic.

6. Create to Communicate: Sculpture

   In: Create to Communicate: Art Activities for the EFL Classroom Format(s): Text

   This section focused on sculpting contains six lesson plans focusing on yes/no questions, comparatives and superlatives, past and present progressive, and adverbs of frequency.

7. Board Game: Name 3

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

   The board game Name 3… gives students a variety of prompts to talk about things they know about.

8. Board Game: Use a Word

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

   This board game provides students with a specific word they should try to use in a sentence. Download the game, instructions, and game variations.

9. Morning Discussion as a Communicative Activity

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

   This article describes freshman university students in China. They started their day with Morning Discussion, a student-hosted discussion of relevant topics. BBC and VOA reports were useful sources. The discussions offered opportunities for negotiation, clarification, and building communicative competence. As students took responsibility for the topics, classroom set up, and participation, their confidence grew. This was very successful, as shown by comments in students’ weekly diaries. Instructors stayed out of debates and did not interrupt to offer corrections.

10. International Business Ethics: Why Discuss International Business Ethics?

    In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 2 Format(s): Text

    This lesson introduces business ethics and what society may expect from corporations. The goals of the lesson are to introduce new vocabulary to discus ethics, provide a basic understanding of international business ethics, and create an atmosphere of trust in discussing the culturally sensitive topic. The lesson asks students to complete and discuss a questionnaire on international business ethics, work in groups to propose a solution to an ethical dilemma at work, and consider a case study in the ethics of gift giving. Online resources are also provided.

Pages