Advanced Search: Resources

1. Casey

   In: American Teens Talk! Format(s): MP3, Text

   What would it be like to be homeschooled? Read and listen to Casey tell her story of going to school at home.

2. Aidan

   In: American Teens Talk! Format(s): E-book, MP3

   Aidan talks about his father as well as trying to find a part-time job.

3. Lilac

   In: American Teens Talk! Format(s): MP3, Text

   In this interview, Lilac talks about her part-time job, being on the swim team, and buying a car.

4. Brian

   In: American Teens Talk! Format(s): MP3, Text

   In this interview, Brian talks about his new baby brother, being bilingual, and plans for summer vacation.

5. Landry

   In: American Teens Talk! Format(s): MP3, Text

   In this interview, Landry discusses learning to drive a car to get a driver’s license.

6. An Integrated Skills Lesson Plan for "A Postcard from America" by Robert Olen Butler

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

   This lesson plan is based on the feature article, “Postcards from America” by Robert Olen Butler. It is appropriate for high intermediate to advanced students. The lesson integrates the four skills and has five parts: Preparing to Read, Reading the Text, Understanding the Text, Making Connections Beyond the Text, and Integrating Language Skills. The lesson includes group discussion of comprehension questions, scanning for vocabulary, and using the dictionary.

7. Just Off Main Street

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

   “Just off Main Street” is for learner use and is an account of the writer’s experience as an Arab American. It opens with a description of the writer’s childhood and the cultural divide between life inside and outside the home. Readers will be drawn into the vivid description of daily life. The article looks at the challenges of being bi-cultural, of keeping home life separate, of being “exoticized,” of becoming comfortable and proud of one’s heritage, and of finding community. The article provides opportunities for discussions of culture, identity, and activism.

8. For Life's Sake

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

   In “For Life’s Sake,” author Linda Hogan provides the reader with a view of the cultural influences that have made her into the poet, essayist, and storyteller she is today. She describes how her ancestors and the beliefs she inherited as a Native American have inspired her choice of topics and shaped her writing into its unique style. Her love of trees is woven through the article. Hogan’s essay gives students a chance to understand and appreciate the life of a writer from another America. It includes her poem, “Affinity,” on the topic of horses, as well as a glossary of terms.

9. An Integrated Skills Lesson Plan for "For Life's Sake" by Linda Hogan

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

   This lesson plan is for use with “For Life’s Sake.” After introducing the topic of Native Americans in class discussion, students read the article and identify unfamiliar vocabulary. Students may then read again and discuss comprehension questions. Post-reading activities build vocabulary, including idioms, and utilize dictionary and scanning skills. Questions to make connections beyond the text may be used for discussion or writing assignments. There are other projects that integrate language skills, such as writing a poem, considering family customs, and doing Internet research.

10. The First Americans: A Brief History The National Museum of the American Indian Preserving Native Languages and Cultures References, Glossary, and Websites of Interest

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

    This article introduces the history of Native Americans, including accomplishments in building, in social organization, and in art. The article discusses religion and cultural beliefs and the devastating effects that the arrival of Europeans had on Native Americans. The article includes sections on current developments as well, such as the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian and efforts to preserve native cultures and languages. The final section addresses the past practice of forcing children to leave their community to go to boarding schools.

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