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1. Spot the Problem! (reprinted from Teaching Pragmatics)

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This lesson plan considers pragmatic violations of openings, closings, and requests. These humorous role plays involve continuing a conversation when one person is trying to end it, being overly direct, and providing an overly informative answer to the greeting “How are you?” Textbooks may lack complete openings and closings, so it is worthwhile to spend time on post-openings and pre-closings. Politeness in English may be problematic for EFL learners because of the lack of grammatical forms that mark it.

2. Why and How to Teach Collocations

   In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 2 Format(s): Text

   One of the key developments in vocabulary teaching stems from Michael Lewis’s Lexical Approach, which considers language as chunks of words combined for meaning. These frequently occurring word combinations are called collocations. This article points out a number of problems that result from learning words in isolation. Work with meaningful phrases can help improve students’ comprehension and comprehensibility. The article includes reading and listening activities to raise awareness of collocations as well as writing and speaking activities.

3. 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.

4. Global Topics, Local Teaching

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

   This webinar, "Global Topics, Local Teaching," explains how to develop service learning activities in the classroom.

5. Target Language Use in the Classroom: Teaching Speaking Differently

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

   This session, "Target Language Use in the Classroom: Teaching Speaking Differently," shares engaging strategies for effectively incorporating authentic target language in EFL lessons: in classroom routines, in language practice, as well as in assessments of speaking gains.

6. Sing Out Loud Children's Songs

   Format(s): MP3, Text, Image / Poster / Maps

   Sing Out Loud Children's Songs CD includes popular children's songs in the U.S.A. Several posters accompany the individual Sing Out Loud Children's Songs.

7. VOA Learning English Activities

   Format(s): Website

   Leveled activities (beginning, intermediate, and advanced) on specific functions, produced by Voice of America.

8. Create to Communicate: Art Activities for the EFL Classroom

   Format(s): Text

   Looking for ways to add art activities to your English language classroom? Create to Communicate is filled with great activities and lessons that use art to foster English language development.

9. Speakers and Task Type: Increasing Awareness of Factors Involved in Speech Act Production

   In: Teaching Pragmatics Format(s): Text

   The goal of this article is to increase awareness of the factors that affect the linguistic realization of speech acts in American English.

10. How Are You, Auntie Elizabeth?

    In: Teaching Pragmatics Format(s): Text, Video, Website

    This lesson aims for students to discuss pragmatic differences between their mother tongues and English, with special attention to openings and closings.

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