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1. Connecting to Learn: Growing Professionally through Teacher-to-Teacher Engagement

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

   This session, "Connecting to Learn: Growing Professionally through Teacher-to-Teacher Engagement," explores how connecting and conversing with peers can offer teachers great opportunities for professional growth.

2. Student-Produced Video: Two Approaches

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

   This article introduces the idea of using video production to engage second language learners in learner-centered, project-based learning activities to motivate them to learn and participate through writing, directing, acting in, and editing a movie. The authors describe two projects. In the first project, four pairs of students each created a three-minute film. In the second project, all eight students worked together to create one long movie. The advantages and disadvantages of both approaches were discussed.

3. Using Teacher-Developed Corpora in the CBI classroom

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

   This article argues for the use of teacher-generated corpora in content-based courses. Using a content course for engineering and architecture students as an example, the article explains how a corpus consisting of texts from textbooks and journal articles helped students learn grammar, vocabulary, and writing. The article explains how the corpus was compiled and presents examples of how students learned to analyze language use using corpus tools and dictionaries. The article ends by emphasizing the advantages of corpus analysis for self-directed learning.

4. Teaching English for and with Communities

   In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article is a reflection of English teaching in Chiclayo, Peru, at a not-for-profit cultural center. It starts with a brief explanation of the authors’ desire to help transform the community through English teaching. The article then explains the concept of civic education and offers a three-tiered approach that has been designed to help the community: Chiclayo reads, summer institute for k-12 English teachers, and the advanced curriculum. The implementation and results of the projects are discussed.

5. Using Self-Assessment for Evaluation

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

   This article explains the usefulness of self-assessment for learning purposes as well as evaluation purposes. The author emphasizes the ways that learners can conduct reliable, global self-assessment as well as three ways in which data-driven self-assessment can be done. The author discusses the purpose of self-assessment and provides specific instruments that can be used. The three data-driven self-assessments that are discussed include Portfolios, Pre- and Post-course writing, and Learner Contracts.

6. English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 1

   Format(s): Text

   The feature article in this issue focuses on the history and significance of U.S. coins. A poetry activity complements this feature. Additional articles discuss integrating skills with critical thinking, the exploration of movie content, the use of the reflective observation model for in-service teacher trainees, and classroom response projects on HIV/AIDS with an example from Zambia.

7. English Prime as an Instructional Tool in Writing Classes

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses a variety of ways to incorporate E-Prime, the idea that all forms of the verb “to be” need to be replaced in writing and speaking. The author shows how this can force ESL and EFL students to improve their writing and make them to spend more time with their essays, to think critically about acceptable grammar and vocabulary, and to search for new vocabulary.

8. 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.

9. Reading to Speak: Integrating Oral Communication Skills

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   Although students want to practice speaking English, they do not have many opportunities to do so in the Chinese EFL system. This often results in something called 'mute English.' This article suggests a greater integration of skills through reading to speak activities. The author includes activities for reading to act, reading to debate, and reading to interview. These activities move students away from a focus on form, allowing students to be creative and build fluency.

10. How to Make Upper-Level University English Classes More Interactive

    In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 2 Format(s): Text

    Because of the advanced nature of the work in ESP classes, some students may have trouble keeping up and staying motivated. The author outlines what she did to make her ESP Engineering class more interactive. By incorporating task-based language teaching (TLBT), there were more opportunities for group work and student-to-student communication. A number of activities are available to the instructor using a TBLT approach, including listing, compare and contrast, problem solving, sharing personal experiences, and projects.

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