Advanced Search: Resources

1. Smithsonian Folkways: Tools for Teaching

   Format(s): Website

   Looking for more ways to use music to teach? Check out the Smithsonian Folkways website that has a section called “Tools for Teaching” with free lessons and activities for the classroom.

2. VOA Podcasts: Shows in Special English

   Format(s): Website

   Articles and corresponding audio on American Life and history for English learners. Read the articles and listen online, or download free podcasts.

3. VOA Podcast: Springtime in D.C.

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

   Listen to a podcast about Springtime in Washington, D.C. Listen online or download the podcast.

4. VOA Podcast: One World Education

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

   Listen to the podcast online or download. Shows in special English are played at one third the speed of regular VOA newscasts.

5. PBS Kids

   Format(s): Website

   PBS Kids helps to educate young learners in creative and fun ways. The educational content is aimed at children, with many interactive games and activities to aid in learning.

6. A Lesson Plan Speaking (and Writing) of Sports

   In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This lesson plan offers several sports-related photographs and classroom activities that use the pictures for individual, pair, or group work. The activities include a sentence-combination task, structured writing questions, open-ended writing tasks, a charting task, and questions for a whole-class discussion. The author gives suggestions for making the tasks easier or more difficult for multiple levels.

7. Article with Activity: Free Speech - It is a Guarantee in America

   In: VOA Articles with Activities Format(s): Video, Website

   Activities for learning English. Listen to the article and read along. Then test your vocabulary with activities and exercises.

8. Good Morning New Orleans

   In: American Rhythms Format(s): MP3

   Jazz musician Kermit Ruffins Louisiana sings about his native city of New Orleans, which is considered the birthplace of jazz music.

9. English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 2

   Format(s): Text

   This issue has a feature article and lesson plan on one-room schools. Article topics include varieties of English, ESL versus EFL, pronunciation, vocabulary strategies, and word recognition exercises.

10. All That Jazz

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

    This article is the first of three to introduce Jazz music, which was born in the United States over a period of 200 years. Jazz was influenced by African, Latin American, and European music. It is generally accepted that Jazz was first recognized in New Orleans, Louisiana, the southeastern United States. This mostly historical article features many Jazz musicians including Ferdinand “Jelly Roll” Morton, Buddy Bolden, Joe “King” Oliver, and Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong. A list of Web sites is included.

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