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1. The Monster Book of Language Teaching Activities

   Format(s): Text

   The Monster Book, has over 150 activities intended to liven up the language classroom, giving students active options for practicing the four skills.

2. EPA Teacher and Learner Resource Center

   Format(s): Text, Video, Website

   Looking for ways to teach about the environment to your English language learners? Check out these 12 lesson plans from the Environmental Protection Agency. There are 4 lessons for each level – beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

3. Tutorials: A Way of Building Community in the Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   These authors from Singapore and Macao discuss the benefits of developing a sense of community in the classroom, which they say can build an environment of trust and mutual confidence with Chinese students. The authors recommend using individual and group tutorials. Although some teachers think tutorials are too much work, the authors claim it is worthwhile. These tutorials are developed with an informal structure and encourage a free flow of conversation. The article gives examples of how tutorials are used in the ESL classroom.

4. Language Teaching through Critical Thinking and Self-Awareness

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

   This article contains a wealth of activities that will help students develop critical thinking skills. These fun and dynamic activities raise students’ self-awareness regarding their perceptions, assumptions, prejudices, and values. The author addresses the teacher's role in helping students think differently and consider ideas from multiple points of view. To encourage critical thinking, assessment should not rely on summary and definition questions, but those that require analysis, hypothesis, and evaluation. A rationale for the importance of critical thinking is provided from a cognitive perspective.

5. Teaching ESL Versus EFL

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

   The author argues for different teaching approaches in EFL vs. ESL settings. He points out the differences in student motivation and suggests how to select different activities for the two contexts (with examples of relevant activities). He gives guidelines for the appropriate role of L1 in each classroom, and explains how the two classroom cultures differ (for example, in term of the learning styles of the students). He argues that keeping in mind these differences will help educators make more effective decisions for their students.

6. Picture This – Questions, Questions

   In: Activate Games for Learning American English: Picture This Format(s): Text

   This game gives students practice forming yes/no questions. Download the cards and instructions for the game.

7. English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 2

   Format(s): Text

   This special issue focuses on developing thematic learning units in EFL classrooms. The process for utilizing the five-step system is discussed in detail, and six separate lesson plans are included.

8. Lesson Plan: Seeing Seattle

   In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This lesson plan contains four main activities and two optional activities based on the feature article about Seattle.

9. Lesson Plan: Quilting with Language

   In: English Teaching Forum 2006, Volume 44, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This lesson plan contains four activities based on the cultural content of quilts. It includes activities for teaching vocabulary and grammar, speaking, writing, and a dicto-comp activity (in which there is both dictation and composition).

10. Activate Games for Learning American English: Picture This

    Format(s): Text

    Picture This cards are a set of cards that can be used for a variety of conversation and word games in English classes.

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