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1. Finding Heterogeneity in Cultural Homogeneity

   In: English Teaching Forum 2021, Volume 59, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   The author points out that “even the most homogenous EFL class will have some cultural variety” and presents a “buffet” of activities designed to help students become curious about the differences they discover, analyze cultural values, and improve skills needed to communicate effectively with people of other cultures.

2. Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Working Together to Achieve Shared Goals

   In: English Teaching Forum 2024, Volume 62, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   Authors Lộc Thị Huỳnh Nguyễn and Fredricka L. Stoller share their own experiences as collaborators working together in person and on two distant continents, and they offer specific, detailed tips for others who are involved in cross-cultural collaborative projects or who may have the opportunity to collaborate in the future.

3. 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.

4. Fishing—A Sport for All Seasons

   In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   Fishing is the feature lesson topic for this issue. Catching fish with hooks is known as angling, which is why fishermen are typically called anglers. Americans fish in urban and rural settings and enjoy many different kinds of fishing including bass fishing, fly fishing and ice fishing. The article discusses recent trends in fishing, including high-tech tools such as GPS devices.

5. 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.

6. Hawai'i: The Aloha State

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This reading about the geography, history, and culture of Hawaii can be used with this issue's lesson plan or on its own. The author includes information about the Hawaiian Islands and offers illustrative, culturally sensitive photographs. Larger sections describe Hawaii's tourism industry and history. The author includes a glossary of Hawaiian vocabulary.

7. Lesson Plan: Cultural Crossroads: Hawaii and Beyond

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This content-based lesson plan is about ethnic/cultural heritage and diversity in Hawaii. It also encourages students to explore their own cultures. The author includes four activities (listening and speaking, small group discussion, place-based group work, and role play). Ideas are also provided for multi-session lessons that encourage students to revise and communicate.

8. 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.

9. Encourage Critical Reading in the EFL Classroom

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

   Using a reading lesson designed for advanced university students in Brazil, the author discusses different types of exercises that can help students become more active readers and be more critical about the reading materials. The author distinguishes between passive and active reading tasks and argues that active tasks are more beneficial because they encourage readers to read between the lines. The author describes some pre-reading, while-reading, and post-reading activities.

10. Reconceptualizing Interactional Groups: Grouping Schemes for Maximizing Language Learning

    In: English Teaching Forum 2010, Volume 48, Number 1 Format(s): Text

    While noting the research on the benefits of learner interaction, this article states that more attention needs to be given to strategies for planning successful group work while avoiding the problems that can come with group activities. The author gives guidelines for forming groups, such as how many students to put in each group, whether to use flexible or fixed groupings, and how to divide students (by personal affiliation, oral language ability, personality, L1, and academic interests). Also addressed are guidelines for designing tasks and assigning group roles.

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