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Teacher Development - What Works in the ELT Classroom? Using Robust Reasoning to Find Out

In: English Teaching Forum 2002, Volume 40, Number 4 Format(s): Text

This article focuses on the usefulness of “robust reasoning” or reflection on one’s own teaching to discover what “works,” or what is effective and appropriate in the classroom. The author describes what “robust reasoning” is and explains how it can be used. The author states that going through such a reflection will lead teachers to definitions of effective teaching that are context appropriate and applicable to their classrooms.

Teacher Resources

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

“Teacher Resources” includes summaries of two publications. In “Beyond Methods: Macrostrategies for Language Teaching,” B. Kumaravadivelu suggests ten keys to successful practice, called macrostrategies, and describes how to implement them. This is a teacher-training tool and promotes reflective teaching. “Teaching Online” by Susan Ko and Steve Rossen is useful for instructors who have not had training in teaching online classes. It covers developing the course, adapting an existing course to an online course, methods for this new educational environment, and more.

Teaching the World's Children: ESL for Ages Three to Seven

In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 1 Format(s): Text

This article discusses teaching English as a second language to very young learners. The authors talks about how important it is for children to have a wide variety of experiences when building language and literacy. The authors explain how the use of various environments, including learning centers, block centers, art or sand tables, writing areas, science and technology centers, and even libraries, can help shape the way a child learns language as well as improve other skills.

Teaching Young Learners

In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 1 Format(s): Text

This author shares her unique approach to teaching young learners. She emphasizes that her approach involves features of communicative styles, the audio lingual approach (AL), and Total Physical Response (TPR), as she believes it is necessary to bring together all three styles of teaching to develop language proficiency. She includes a lesson plan for beginner level students to improve grammar competency.

A Process Genre Model for Teaching Writing

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

This article considers three different approaches to the teaching of writing: the product approach, the process approach, and the genre approach. After explaining the different approaches, the author uses recent research to suggest a combination of the genre/process approaches in the composition classroom. A lesson plan is provided.

Teaching ESL Versus EFL

In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 2 Format(s): Text

The author argues for different teaching approaches in EFL vs. ESL settings. He points out the differences in student motivation and suggests how to select different activities for the two contexts (with examples of relevant activities). He gives guidelines for the appropriate role of L1 in each classroom, and explains how the two classroom cultures differ (for example, in term of the learning styles of the students). He argues that keeping in mind these differences will help educators make more effective decisions for their students.

Creating a Learner-Centred Teacher Education Program

In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 3 Format(s): Text

This article describes the creation of a learner-centered classroom environment, with students who came from a teacher-centered background. A teacher-dominated classroom is one where the teacher talks most of the time, leads activities, and constantly passes judgment on student performance. The authors describe a learner-centered classroom as one where students work on distinct tasks and projects individually or in small groups, developing learner autonomy and control. The authors share steps in their process of creating a learner-centered classroom.

Center for Applied Linguistics

Format(s): Text, Website, Image / Poster / Maps

The Center for Applied Linguistics offers everything from information on immersion programs to the newest research and guidance on best practices for teachers. Visit regularly to keep up to date on research-based strategies and practical hands-on tools to help develop effective classroom activities.

Module 3: Integrating Skills

In: Shaping the Way We Teach English: Successful Practices Around the World Format(s): Text, Video, Website

This Module of the Shaping the Way we Teach English Series contains a lesson plan and accompanying video that is focused on the use of language skills together in social interaction.

Module 11: Individual Learner Differences