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1. The Lighter Side: A_____ I_____

   In: English Teaching Forum 2024, Volume 62, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   These days, “AI” usually means “artificial intelligence,” but in this puzzle, “AI” is used as a substitute for other two-word terms and phrases. The only requirement is that the first word must begin with the letter “a,” and the second word must begin with the letter “i.” Can you find every AI in this puzzle?

2. Writing Check with the Academic Word List

   In: Teacher's Corner: Teaching Academic Writing Format(s): Text

   When English language learners in academic settings focus attention on wordlists, such as AWL (the Academic Word List), they have an opportunity to expand vocabulary. In this week’s activity, students will use the AWL to check and revise their own written work.

3. Elements of the Blues

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This is the third in a four-part series of essays on the American musical style called “Blues.” The music grew out of the musical traditions of African slaves in the United States between 1619 and 1863, blended with the musical styles of Europe. It is closely related to Jazz. Blues and Jazz are the only two completely unique musical styles created in the United States. This article covers the verse structure, the instruments, and other musical elements of the Blues.

4. The Cotton Club

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

   This one-page piece details The Cotton Club, one of the most glamorous dance and music clubs in New York City in the 1920s and 1930s. The Cotton Club was located in Harlem, which in the 1920s was an African-American residential and cultural business center in New York. The club had 30 to 50 chorus girls who danced and sang and were only hired if they were beautiful and very tall. Although the singers and dancers were almost all black, the audience was almost all white, which was a sign of the racial American society at the time.

5. Content Spotlight: The Olympics

   “When I grow up, I want to be the best at sliding heavy stones on ice (also known as delivery in the sport of curling)!” Okay, so you’ve probably never heard a child say that. And, to many of us, devoting your life to a sport may seem extreme. So why does the world find the Olympics so fascinating? Well, sports give us the opportunity to come together peacefully and celebrate the human spirit. And there is no better example of this ideal than the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games teach us to dream big, to work hard to achieve our goals, and to excel to be the best.

6. Alternatives to Current Pedagogy for Teaching the Present Perfect Progressive

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   These researchers collected 250 samples of spoken and written American English from high-level communicators and analyzed the use of the present perfect progressive tense. They compared these samples to five leading ESL and EFL grammar textbooks. This article reviews the research and findings. The five leading textbooks provided good overall structure for teaching the present perfect progressive tense, but the use of the tense was critically influenced by broad context, adverbs, temporal context and the uses of other tenses including the present and present perfect tense.

7. Applying Current Approaches to the Teaching of Reading

   In: English Teaching Forum 2006, Volume 44, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses different approaches to reading instruction for EFL learners based on theoretical frameworks. The author starts with the bottom-up approach to reading instruction, and briefly explains phonics and behaviorist ideas that inform this instructional approach. The author then explains the top-down approach and the new cognitive perspective. The author also explains schema theory and how to apply it to help students before, during, and after reading. The interactive model is then discussed.

8. Lesson Plan: A Day at the Fair

   In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This issue’s lesson plan, “A Day at the Fair” follows the feature article on state and county fairs. After reading a summary of the article, learners are asked to list things they might experience with their senses at a fair. The terms may be used in a role play. Group members select roles and make decisions about how to spend a day at the fair according to the preferences on their cards. The lesson concludes with a reflection on decisions made during the role play.

9. VOA: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

   In: VOA American Stories Format(s): MP3, Video, Website

   In the U.S., October is famous for Halloween. One way to celebrate this holiday is by reading or listening to a famous spooky American classic via Voice of America. There’s even a lesson plan for teachers!

10. Try This: All in the Family Photo

    In: English Teaching Forum 2015, Volume 53, Number 4 Format(s): Text

    This activity can build community and relationships in the classroom.

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