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1. Polite Ways of Correcting or Contradicting our Conversation's Partner's Assumptions

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

   This lesson aims to raise learners' pragmatic awareness towards an important conversational function and to help them to be aware of the negative impression brought about by the non-use of actually (or other softeners of contradiction or correction) and for students to learn to produce corrections or contradictions prefaced by actually.

2. Are You Listening? (Backchannel Behaviors)

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

   This lesson aims to promote awareness of short responses during conversations such as uh-huh and yeah known as backchannel behaviors; to increase awareness of cultural differences in backchannel behaviors; to allow students to practice behaviors that indicate active listening.

3. Talking on a Second Channel Using Parentheticals in English Discourse

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

   This lesson in Teaching Pragmatics aims to help students learn to pronounce a range of parentheticals appropriately.

4. Teaching Refusals in an EFL Setting

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

   The goals of this lesson in Teaching Pragmatics are: raising awareness that misunderstandings can be caused by differences in performing speech acts between Japanese and Americans; making learners aware of what they know already and encouraging them to use their universal or transferable L1 pragmatic knowledge in L2 contexts; teaching the appropriate linguistic forms that are likely to be encountered in performing speech acts.

5. Seismic Sleuths

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

   Have you ever wondered what causes earthquakes? The Federal Emergency Management Agency presents a six unit activity package that assesses student knowledge of earthquakes and provides information about preparedness and emergency management.

6. Intercultural Training with Films

   In: English Teaching Forum 2010, Volume 48, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses the use of film in the classroom to promote a better understanding of cross-cultural interaction. Examples are provided of films that feature issues in intercultural communication, such as nonverbal communication, cultural traditions, stereotypes, and individualism vs. collectivism. The article also includes guidelines for using films in the classroom as well as pre-, during, and post-viewing activities.

7. 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.

8. Using Replacement Performance Role-Plays in the Language Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   Replacement performance role plays are a different type of role play. Rather than memorizing or writing a dialogue, this activity asks learners to listen and consider other possible responses. Students decide which character will be replaced and what they will do differently. Even shy learners or ones with lower proficiency levels can be involved because it is less overwhelming than writing a dialogue. The activity develops pragmatic competence and critical thinking skills. Popular TV shows can be used.

9. PBS Learning Media

   Format(s): Website

   PBS LearningMedia™ is the go-to destination for instant access to tens of thousands of classroom-ready, digital resources including videos, games, audio clips, photos, lesson plans, and more!

10. Classroom Activities

    In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 1 Format(s): Text

    This section presents three stand-alone learning activities related to the theme of knitting. A lesson for upper beginners uses the topic of knitting to teach clothing-related vocabulary. A lesson for intermediate learners uses an essay on knitting circles for a paragraph-ordering activity. An advanced lesson helps students understand idioms related to knitting. The lesson plan includes printable idiom cards.

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