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1. Activate: Games for Learning American English

   Format(s): Text

   Are you looking for fun, meaningful activities to use in your classroom? Check out these board games! Game themes require students to produce certain types of expressions, so they practice a variety of vocabulary, grammatical patterns, and functional meanings.

2. "Imported" Communicative Language Teaching: Implications for Local Teachers

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

   This article criticizes the rejection of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) in non-Western contexts. Teachers sometimes avoid CLT because it includes ideas (such as autonomy and choice) that do not always fit with the educational, social, and cultural perspectives of their areas. The author defines CLT, considers the issues that come with importing this teaching method, and offers suggestions to help EFL teachers adapt CLT to their contexts to create genuine communication.

3. Smithsonian for Educators

   Format(s): Website

   Links to educator pages from the Smithsonian museums such as the American Art Museum and the Portrait Gallery.

4. 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!

5. Assessment of Young Learners

   In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses how the trend towards low-anxiety, communicative-based language teaching and integrated language and content teaching has created a need to change assessment strategies for young learners. The author describes alternative assessment techniques such as nonverbal responses, oral interview, narratives, group assessment, and dialogue journals, and suggests how they can be carried out through regular classroom work.

6. Picture This – Same & Different

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

   Same & Different provides students with the opportunity to use their background knowledge about the items on the 'Picture This' cards to create descriptions that compare and contrast two items on a card.

7. Picture This – Mix It, Fix It!

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

   Mix It, Fix It! allows students to practice creating well-formed questions. This game works best in small groups.

8. American Rhythms

   Format(s): MP3, Text

   The Sing Out Loud American Rhythms CD includes a variety of musical genres from many different artists in the U.S.A. These songs will appeal to teens and young adults. This "hybrid" CD also contains a teacher's guide to using music in the classroom.

9. Consciousness-Raising and Prepositions

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

   This article discusses consciousness-raising as a way to help students learn English prepositions. This technique, in which grammatical forms are highlighted in some way, can be helpful to teachers, especially when instructors have difficulty finding materials. The author shares her experience using consciousness-raising in a course in South Africa for ESL teachers.

10. Supertalents

    In: American Rhythms Format(s): MP3, Text

    "Supertalents" by Mista Cookie Jar and the Chocolate Chips is a song from the American Rhythms album. Download or listen online.

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