Advanced Search: Resources

1. Ten Characteristics of a Good Teacher

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

   The author, an experienced English teacher, combines her professional experience with her language learner experience to identify her ideal language teacher. Her top ten characteristics focus on four areas: affective characteristics including humor and enthusiasm; skills such as the use of creative tools; classroom management styles and academic knowledge. The author claims motivation thrives on success, and by adopting these characteristics, students will react positively.

2. Using Mobile Phone Technology in EFL Classes

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

   This article explains how students can use their mobile phones to produce video projects and use English for meaningful communication. The author first explains what communicative competence is and why it is important. The author then discusses difficulties of putting principles of communicative language teaching into practice, which is the main rationale behind the author’s idea. Finally, the author describes four video projects and several activities based on mobile phone features.

3. Using Practice Posters to Address EFL Challenges

   In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   Practice posters, with pictures and captions, are useful for controlled practice of vocabulary and structures in an EFL context. The author has found many advantages of using posters with beginners in a high school setting. Student led review gets students active, increases autonomy and improves confidence. The use of small groups is effective with multi-language classes and frees the teacher to monitor interactions. Other benefits include increasing English use, limiting mistakes, decreasing discipline issues, helping with pronunciation and appealing to a variety of learning styles.

4. Hands-on Language Learning with Mobile Devices

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

   This, session "We Like to Move It! Hands-on Language Learning with Mobile Devices," introduces mobile language learning activities that require no internet connection.

5. Letters to the Editor

   In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   The letters to the editor include a note from Stephen Krashen on the use of L1 in the classroom as well as a letter praising the forum for providing pre-service teachers in Cuba the opportunity to discuss ideas before entering the classroom.

6. Amplifying Voice and Choice in the EFL Classroom

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

   This session, “Amplifying Voice and Choice in the EFL Classroom,” explained several student voice strategies, and will prepare participants to select or adapt the strategies to suit their teaching contexts, students, and teaching styles!

7. Group Progress Charts for Young Learners

   In: English Teaching Forum, Volume 60, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   Malka N. Wickramasinghe, a teacher in Sri Lanka, shares a step-by-step guide to motivating young learners to collaborate on group tasks through the use of roles and creative, goal-oriented progress charts.

8. The Lighter Side: Fishy Fun

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

   There are two games. The first has five tongue twisters, each word missing a letter which the student must complete. The second game is a matching game, but the words are missing letters which the student must fill in before he/she completes the match. The games help with vocabulary and spelling.

9. The Future is Now: Preparing a New Generation of CBI Teachers

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

   This article discusses the use of Content Based Instruction (CBI) and provides ways that language-teacher education programs can better prepare CBI teachers. The author argues that CBI is particularly relevant now, in the 21st century. The article explains what specific skills are needed to successfully teach using a CBI approach, including Language Proficiency, Academic Skills, Pedagogical Knowledge, and content-language interface skills.

10. On Native Language Intrusions and Making Do with Words: Linguistically Homogeneous Classrooms and Native Language Use

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

    Should L1 use be avoided in an EFL context, where classrooms tend to be linguistically homogeneous and where students have little opportunity to use English outside the classroom? This article reviews research on native language use in the classroom, how it is used (or not used), and the effects. It addresses topics such as impact on learning, teacher guilt, “covert use,” affective and processing benefits, validating the students’ own language, and solidarity with the instructor. The author concludes that a trend toward what Atkinson calls “judicious use” is reasonable.

Pages