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1. Word Bricks- Parts of Speech

   In: Activate: Games for Learning American English - Word Bricks Format(s): Text

   In Part of Speech, teacher gives the players a specific pattern to use, and their sentences must follow this pattern. Students use Word Bricks to build sentences individually, in pairs, or in small groups. This activity is great for lower proficiency level students, as it provides scaffolding to help students generate a correct sentence.

2. Word Bricks-Sentence Boundaries

   In: Activate: Games for Learning American English - Word Bricks Format(s): Text

   Use Word Bricks to help your students practice sentence patterns. In the game Sentence Boundaries, teams compete to complete five sentence patterns using the Word Bricks. Download Word Bricks and the instructions!

3. Word Bricks-Sentence Challenge

   In: Activate: Games for Learning American English - Word Bricks Format(s): Text

   With the game Sentence Challenge, learners practice sentence structure in a fun, collaborative way. Teams work to create the longest sentence possible out of their Word Bricks. Then, the opposing teams ‘challenge’ a sentence if they believe there is an error.

4. Classroom Activities

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

   These classrooms activities, which are designed for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students, focus on the issue’s fishing theme. Classroom activities include written and oral work, vocabulary, team work and individual work. Lessons include creating a vocabulary card game, oral story telling based on the “fish story” concept of telling exaggerated stories, and the creation of a persuasive piece. Variations are included to expand and vary the lessons.

5. A Tale of Two Animals

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

   An Indonesian fable is the theme of this three-part lesson for young learners. Students practice with the past-tense verbs used in the fable. By listening, reading and ordering the sentences, and copying a paragraph of the story, students become very familiar with the fable. The lessons finish with homework to write a play based on the fable. Students may select and perform the best play from their group.

6. Developing Writing

   Format(s): Text

   Developing Writing is a reading and writing skills text designed for beginning to intermediate learners of English.

7. Real-Life Problem Solving: A Collaborative Learning Activity

   In: English Teaching Forum 2002 (Volume 40, Number 1) Format(s): Text

   This article emphasizes the importance of classroom activities that promote interaction and real-life problem-solving skills. The author describes a real-life problem-solving activity that she implements within her own classroom, consisting of multiple groups of students following a seven-step process. The steps she emphasizes include: state the problem, analyze, brainstorm, decide, think though, identify, and follow up. The author suggests how the activity can be used in a variety of classrooms and age levels.

8. Using Progressive I-Can Statements to Promote Learner Confidence in Writing

   In: English Teaching Forum 2010, Volume 48, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   Language learners may sometimes feel shy and unsure of their abilities and may not be able to see what they are able to do. The authors found that writing I-can statements (e.g., I can write the names of foods in English) can be a good way to build confidence. Students use their I-can records to assess their own progress. The authors offer a starting point for teachers by presenting ideas for tasks such as copying words, writing signs, and writing about the weekend.

9. Bright Ideas: A Teacher’s Resource Manual

   Format(s): Text

   Bright Ideas: A Teacher’s Resource Manual offers twenty-six practical teaching strategies and techniques that originally appeared in Ideas Plus, a special series of publications produced by the National Council of Teachers of English.

10. Climbing Grammar Mountain: An Interactive Learning Experience

    In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 4 Format(s): Text

    This article describes a grammar game that is an enjoyable way for students to correct sentences. In Climbing Grammar Mountain, best suited for secondary and university students, learners compete in teams to “climb” a game board. They earn needed equipment in the form of sentences. If a student can correctly state whether a sentence is grammatical, s/he is able to proceed, with bonus points for correcting an incorrect sentence. The game board, sample sentences, and instructions for teachers and students are included along with suggestions for adaptations.

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