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1. Engaging Language Learners with Biography-Based Lessons, Units, and Courses

   In: English Teaching Forum 2018, Volume 56, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article provides a number of ideas for incorporating biographies and biography-based texts to enhance the learning of language (and culture).

2. Crowdsourced Language Learning: Lessons for TESOL Educators from Online Language-Learning Enthusiasts

   In: English Teaching Forum 2016, Volume 54, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   Online language-learning sites have multiplied over the years, and this article offers suggestions for evaluating and getting the most out of them.

3. Developing an International Multilingual Writing Center: Lessons Learned

   In: English Teaching Forum 2023, Volume 61, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   Authors Andrea Mason Garner and Courtney Scarborough recount their experiences developing academic writing centers at two locations in Indonesia, then show how the lessons they learned can help other teachers start and operate a writing center successfully. The authors present tips for writing centers in various contexts, including those with low resources and a limited budget.

4. Media Circles: Lively, Learner-Led Lessons

   In: English Teaching Forum 2020, Volume 58, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article gives suggestions for applying the concept of literature circles to audiovisual media rather than to literary works as a way to support learner autonomy and interaction with the target language.

5. Teaching Reading to Speakers of Non-Romanized Languages

   In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 3 Format(s): Text

   This article offers tips for teaching reading to speakers of non-Romanized languages. The author explains how initial lessons of the text “Let’s Read: A Linguistic Approach” by Bloomfield and Barnhart can be modified to address challenges that many Asian and Middle Eastern EFL learners face. The lessons address the alphabet, linking letters to sounds, and focusing on vowels in beginning reading. Rhyming and minimal pairs build connections between symbols and phonetic values. The lessons build a foundation for future reading. Teachers of any age group may find this article useful.

6. Rules and Laws

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This article presents a lesson that gives students the opportunity to explore aspects of rules and laws. The goal of the lesson is to help students learn vocabulary and concepts associated with the topic, practice their English language skills, and develop an understanding of the role of rules and laws in civil societies. The article shares three activities for a fifty-minute lesson plan, but the authors state that teachers may modify the lesson for their own contexts and student needs.

7. Amazing Animals

   In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   “Animals” is a three-part lesson plan for young learners with a zoo animal theme. The first lesson is full of activities to describe animals, with Simon Says, guessing games, and learning stations. The second lesson is about desert animals, but other types of animals could be chosen depending on student interest. This lesson teaches prepositions of place. The final lesson, using the Language Experience Approach, leads up to a trip to the zoo (real or virtual). The class constructs a story of their experience and reads it together. Animal flashcards are included.

8. Trees

   In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This is a thematic lesson plan for young learners about palm trees and the importance of taking care of them. The two part lesson teaches listening, reading and speaking skills. The lesson includes parts of a tree; the modal auxiliary, can; dialogues and a role play activity.

9. 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.

10. Developing Pragmatic Competence in the EFL Classroom

    In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 3 Format(s): Text

    Pragmatic competence is an important part of communicative competence, yet it is often insufficiently addressed. This article outlines a program of four lessons on the speech acts of openings and closings. Lessons examine dialogues for cultural differences regarding forms of address, abruptness, expected responses, and so on. Students also consider pre-closing phrases, ways to express politeness, and formality. Finally, students expand an artificial dialogue to make it more realistic. Activities include translation, pair work, creative writing, class discussion, and role play.

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