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1. Testing Writing in the EFL Classroom: Student Expectations

   In: English Teaching Forum 2002, Volume 40, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article reports on the inconsistency between the expected and actual grades of learners of English as foreign language in freshman English writing classes. It discusses the differences between students’ and instructors’ perceptions of acceptable essay writing. It suggests that teachers develop valid and reliable testing procedures and help students to increase their awareness and understanding of the proficiency levels required to write essays.

2. Abstracts from Other Journals

   In: English Teaching Forum 2002, Volume 40, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   "Abstracts from Other Journals” discusses three articles on different issues related to second or foreign language teaching. The first is Diane Slaouti’s “The World Wide Web for Academic Purposes: Old Study Skills for New” (English for Specific Purposes). The second is Jasone Cenoz’s “Age Differences in Foreign Language Learning” ( I.T.L. Review of Applied Linguistics). The third is Deborah Schaffer’s “The Story of e-“ (English Today: The International Review of the English Language).

3. Renewable Energy

   In: English Teaching Forum 2002, Volume 40, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This article, aimed at high intermediate to advanced readers, discusses the use of renewable energy. It presents a brief history on the source and types of energy. It then focuses on recent developments including solar, biomass, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy. The article discusses the future of renewable energy and provides some suggestions on how to improve it.

4. The Mediational Role of Language Teachers in Sociocultural Theory

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

   This article describes a sociocultural view of interaction, in which teachers construct knowledge with learners. Language is a mediating factor in cognitive development. The article discusses Vygotsky and the Zone of Proximal Development. According to Vygotsky, students are capable of doing more with guidance and support than they can alone. This principle leads instructors to scaffold material just beyond the leaner’s level. When teachers and students have meaningful interaction, learning is enhanced.

5. Microteaching

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This brief article introduces the reader to the microteaching procedure. Teachers in training will prepare a short microlesson of five to ten minutes in length for normally fewer than ten students. Students may be real or trainees. The lesson is videotaped and discussed with colleagues and/or supervisors. The teacher then reteaches the lesson. This help teacher reflect and grow as well as consult with peers. Suggestions for preparation and teaching of microlessons are provided.

6. Promoting Solidarity in Short Interactions

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

   This lesson in Teaching Pragmatics aims to raise awareness of and give practice in using strategies of relexicalisation for descriptive accounts and for promoting solidarity in short interactions. A sub-goal is to provide students with interesting and natural vehicles for vocabulary development, recycling and revision.

7. The Lighter Side

   In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 2 Format(s): Text

   There are two games in this issue. “Sights in the City: A Word Puzzle” is for high intermediate or advanced students who are familiar with tourist attractions in the United States. Clues about landmarks and their locations are provided, as are “hangman” type blanks to cue the number of letters in the answer. The second game is “Urban Renewal: A Word Search Puzzle.”

8. 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.

9. Tips for Reading Extensively

   In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 4 Format(s): Text

   This article describes how instructors can help their students benefit from extensive reading. Ten tips cover the basic guidelines of extensive reading. Extensive reading can improve learners’ fluency, confidence, and motivation in addition to expanding vocabulary and increasing reading speed. Students should read for overall comprehension and avoid turning to dictionaries with each new word. Modeling extensive reading and reading aloud with enthusiasm may also encourage student interest.

10. 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.

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