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A Call to Service

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

This article is an introduction to the full length interview with Dr. James Alatis, who has been referred to as "the father of TESOL." The introduction highlights the benefits of TESOL professionals volunteering to serve in organizations that provide training and networking for others in the field.

Bringing One Language to Another: Multilingualism as a Resource in the Language Classroom

In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 1 Format(s): Text

Many EFL students are already multilingual, but they may not realize the strengths they bring to language learning. This article calls on instructors to help students develop language awareness and guide them to find ways to apply what they know about language. The author shows how this process occurred in a sociolinguistics course and includes sample lessons for all ages and a variety of levels of proficiency. Lessons incorporate the students’ language knowledge in such skill areas as grammar and vocabulary.

Gardening: A Growing Activity

In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 3 Format(s): Text

This article discusses the history of gardening in America, from the Great Depression to the present. The author points out two different categories; Urban Gardening and Eco-Friendly Gardening, both of which serve various purposes. Also included is a glossary of terms related to gardening as well as a list of websites that discuss gardening.

Classroom Activities

In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 3 Format(s): Text

This section presents three stand-alone language-learning activities for different level classrooms. The interactive activities focus on skills that familiarize students with simple sentence structures, present tense, grammar review through group work and games, a vocabulary review, and an activity to help students understand the concept of metaphors and use them in their writing.

Intercultural Training with Films

In: English Teaching Forum 2010, Volume 48, Number 2 Format(s): Text

This article discusses the use of film in the classroom to promote a better understanding of cross-cultural interaction. Examples are provided of films that feature issues in intercultural communication, such as nonverbal communication, cultural traditions, stereotypes, and individualism vs. collectivism. The article also includes guidelines for using films in the classroom as well as pre-, during, and post-viewing activities.

Twenty Ideas for Using Mobile Phones in the Language Classroom

In: English Teaching Forum 2010, Volume 48, Number 3 Format(s): Text

Educators need to learn how best to use the increasingly popular mobile phone technology to support learning in the language classroom. This author outlines the benefits as well as potential problems and solutions of mobile phone use, giving twenty practical ideas for classroom activities, such as using a voice recorder to capture conversations outside the classroom.

Using Anecdotes in Language Class

In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 1 Format(s): Text

This article discusses the usefulness of anecdotes as a technique to stimulate learners’ interest and thus create a meaningful learning context in the second language classroom. It describes the pattern of an anecdote and how it should be formed as well as the different types of anecdotes. The article offers tips to successfully implement this technique.

Scaffolding Linguistics and Intercultural Goals in EFL with Simplified Novels and their Film Adaptations

In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 3 Format(s): Text

This article argues that exposure to culture will help students develop complex linguistic and cultural skills. The authors discuss the use of graded literary readers, audio resources, and films. They present a detailed description of the implementation and results of two simplified novel modules in an EFL program.

Adbusting: Critical Media Literacy in a Multi-Skills Academic Writing Lesson

In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 4 Format(s): Text

This article provides 10 reasons why it is important to do critical media analysis in the second language classroom and describes how a process-writing approach can be used for this in a university writing class. The authors explain how to prepare a lesson plan and the idea of an “Adbuster.” They then describe 10 stages in the lesson plan that involve different activities that blend the themes of an advertisement with the stages of the writing process.

Lesson Plan: Sharing Your Vacation - Send a Postcard!