Advanced Search: Resources

1. The Future is Now: Preparing a New Generation of CBI Teachers

   In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses the use of Content Based Instruction (CBI) and provides ways that language-teacher education programs can better prepare CBI teachers. The author argues that CBI is particularly relevant now, in the 21st century. The article explains what specific skills are needed to successfully teach using a CBI approach, including Language Proficiency, Academic Skills, Pedagogical Knowledge, and content-language interface skills.

2. Using Comic Strips in Language Classes

   In: English Teaching Forum 2006, Volume 44, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   The author believes that using comic strips in language-learning classes has three main benefits. First, comic strips motivate younger learners. Second, they provide a context and logically connected sentences to help language learning. Third, their visual information is helpful for comprehension. The author argues that comic strips can be used in exercises of reading and other skills areas. The author provides four activities that use comic strips.

3. Communicative Curriculum Design for the 21st Century

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

   This piece looks at Communicative Language Teaching, or CLT, for teaching EFL. The author discusses the history, the focus, and the future of CLT. The article describes how to shape a communicative curriculum and the five components that it is composed of: language arts, language for a purpose, personal English use, theater arts, and beyond the classroom. The article emphasizes the variation of CLT within each classroom.

4. Adapting Textbook Activities for Communicative Teaching and Cooperative Learning

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

   This article discusses how textbooks can be adapted to include more communicative and cooperative activities in language classes, especially for teachers who are cautious about using Communicative Language Teaching and cooperative learning. It describes how small modifications can be made with minimal extra preparation, with results that help change textbook exercises into more communicative, authentic activities.

5. Pronunciation Textbook Discrepancies

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

   This article identifies the most common differences among popular English pronunciation textbooks. Vowel symbols, number of diphthongs, and the different ways of marking primary and secondary stress are a few of the pronunciation features addressed. These differences can make it confusing and frustrating for teachers and students. Instructors should be aware of these differences and address them with their students while encouraging students to use the instructor’s preferred transcription system.

6. 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.

7. Building Fluency through the Repeated Reading Method

   In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses the success of Repeated Reading (RR) within EFL classrooms, illustrating three techniques of RR that can be used to develop students’ fluency, comprehension skills, and reading self-esteem. After providing a background on the RR method, the author explains the techniques step by step and suggests activities. The techniques include classic oral repeated reading (ORR), Paired repeated reading (PRR), and Reader’s Theater (RT).

8. Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Two Heads Are Better Than One

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

   This article shares ideas of how English language teaching professionals can collaborate with content-area specialists effectively to create learning opportunities for students. Using nine examples and various metaphors, the authors explain three principles for effective team teaching: initiating an interdisciplinary project, establishing an interdisciplinary team, and working successfully with other disciplines by having good working relationships.

9. 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.

10. 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.

Pages