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1. Classmates as Language Learning Allies: Activities to Encourage Student-to-Student Interaction

   In: American English Webinars Format(s): Text, Video

   This session, “Classmates as Language Learning Allies: Activities to Encourage Student-to-Student Interaction,” provides ideas and strategies for structuring pair and group work to maximize student-to-student engagement, which can be especially important in contexts offering limited opportunities for out-of-class English practice.

2. Enhancing Learner Motivation in the EFL Classroom

   In: American English Webinars Format(s): Text, Video

   This session, "Enhancing Learner Motivation in the EFL Classroom," addresses how to enhance our own motivation as teachers and then explore ways to enhance the motivation of our students. We will anchor the discussion on Dörnyei’s framework of motivational teaching practices.

3. Motivating Students by Modifying Evaluation Methods

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

   This author identifies three key elements to student assessment—overly critical correcting, expectations, and competitive scoring—that prevent success in the ESL environment, based on the typical Chinese educational structure. The article discusses several techniques, mostly learner-centered, that a teacher can use to provide effective assessments while also creating an environment of trust, confidence, and fairness, where a student feels safe to take risks.

4. Language Anxiety & Classroom Dynamics: A Study of Adult Learners

   In: English Teaching Forum 2002, Volume 40, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses the characteristics and needs of adult foreign language learners in terms of the quality of the learning environment in the classroom. It tries to answer what classroom dynamics mean and whether teachers can control and shape it. The article discusses the sources of anxiety and inhibition in the classroom and presents the traits of good classroom dynamics that make the learning environment more relaxed and learner friendly.

5. The Use of Ethics in the EFL Classroom

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

   If students are not meeting their goals, it may be that the reason is non-linguistic. Motivation is an important factor that teachers need to consider. The writer argues that carefully chosen ethics cases can motivate timid students to speak out by removing their fear of making mistakes and by encouraging them to talk about heart-felt beliefs. Since ethics cases may not have clear right and wrong answers, this sets them apart from other discussion topics. Debate will foster critical thinking skills.

6. Classroom Techniques: Unleashing Writing Creativity in Students

   In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This article argues for free, creative writing in the L2 classroom. The author states that because writing can be stressful and at times paralyzing, the goal of L2 writing should not be to produce perfect, error-free work. The teacher should be a coach, dictionary, and grammar book. The author includes creative writing activities.

7. The Conversation Class

   In: English Teaching Forum 2012, Volume 50, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses conversation classes, drawing from the author’s experience teaching Persian ESL. The author offers eight guidelines for effective teaching: cultivate a relaxed atmosphere (with six suggestions for doing this), be alert and foster alertness, be enthusiastic and engender enthusiasm, be patient, be sensitive, think, listen, and make corrections. The article finishes with a number of suggested topics and activities for promoting conversation.

8. Maximizing the Benefits of Project Work in Foreign Language Classrooms

   In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   There are many benefits to using project work in the classroom, such as student autonomy, increased content knowledge, and motivation. This article gives ten steps for structuring project activities to maximize these benefits, using a case study on project-based learning in an English preparatory program in Turkey. Also included are recommendations for writers on how to include project-based learning in their materials.

9. Student-Centered Speaking Activities to Increase Fluency and Accuracy

   In: American English Webinars Format(s): Text, Video

   This session, "Student-Centered Speaking Activities to Increase Fluency and Accuracy," focuses on activities that participants can use in teaching speaking in multi-level classes with students of all ages.

10. Keep it Moving: Ideas for Fun, Active Classroom Activities

    In: American English Webinars Format(s): Text, Video

    During this session, Regional English Language Officer Kevin McCaughey shares his approach to a dynamic classroom space: The Movable Class. Kevin explains how this approach will help you to use more group work, design student-centered activities, and become a more confident classroom manager, all while you and your students have more fun!

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