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1. A Judicious Lesson: A Whole-learning Reading Activity

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses the use of whole-reading activities in a university level reading and speaking course. The author used a magazine article about a murder and a trial to develop a four-week unit in which students investigated ideas about crime, punishment, rhetorical strategies, idiomatic language, and the United States' judicial system. Through the use of this unit, the author advocates for readings and activities that challenge students to move beyond comprehension of a text.

2. Earthquakes

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article about earthquakes is appropriate for intermediate to advanced learners, particularly those with an interest in earth sciences. The article discusses the basic science of earthquakes, how they are measured, global earthquake zones, significant earthquakes in recent history, and tips for surviving an earthquake. Additional websites of interest about earthquakes are provided as well.

3. Information Gap in Communicative Classrooms

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   The author argues that exchanges in the classroom must go beyond display questions and should be based on the information gap that occurs when one speaker does not know in advance what the other is going to say. The author provides examples of information gap activities to promote a communicative classroom. Activity types include practical situations, guessing games, role plays, opinion gap activities, and reasoning gap activities. The author argues that these activities have real communicative value.

4. Classroom Activities

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

   This piece offers three activities that give students practice with vocabulary, grouping of similar terms, the use of future and present tenses, and identifying grammatical categories such as adjectives, verbs, and nouns.

5. Voice of America YouTube Channel

   Format(s): Video, Website

   Videocasts on current events which connect with other Special English VOA content. Learn American English and much more with captioned news and features in VOA Special English.

6. Materials for Exploring American Culture

   Materials for teaching and learning about American culture.

7. The Lighter Side: Stage Directions

   In: English Teaching Forum 2015, Volume 53, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   Stage directions describe characters’ emotions or actions; they help actors interpret scripts.

8. Stories about U.S. History

   Format(s): Text, Video, Website

   Special English news stories about U.S. History, produced by Voice of America, written for English language learners.

9. Trace Effects Video Game

   Trace Effects is collaborative English language video game experience for students ages 12-16. Learn English and explore American culture through puzzles, games, and adventures in an interactive world.

10. Voice of America Twitter Feed

    Format(s): Website

    Get short, timely English messages on Twitter to stay updated on a wide variety of topics.

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