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1. Authentic Video in the Beginning ESOL Classroom: Using a Full-Length Feature Film for Listening and Speaking Strategy Practice

   In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 1 Format(s): Text

   Using film in the classroom can be effective with beginning English learners. A full-length film offers continuous context to discuss humor, culture, and language functions, real-life communication with images and non-verbal cues, increased retention due to activating the right hemisphere of the brain, and the lowering of students’ affective filters. The authors include a lesson based on their experience teaching listening and speaking skills using the movie “What about Bob.” Assessment techniques and potential problems are considered.

2. The Prisoner’s Dilemma – A Game of Decision-Making

   Format(s): Text, Website, Image / Poster / Maps

   How do people make Decisions? This game, presented by The National Science Foundation, is an example of decision science called “Game Theory”.

3. Learning to Hypothesize with Confidence through Sudoku Game Play

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

   According to the author, the game Sudoku offers a useful way to teach students in an EFL environment. Students learn the important words and grammar connected to language functions of confident hypothesizing and making logical conclusions. When students solve the Sudoku puzzles, they are asked to use modal verbs of certainty (e.g., must, can) and colloquial phrases such as "I bet that..." to communicate. The author provides lesson templates.

4. Picture This – ABCs

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

   ABCs provides students with vocabulary practice by asking them to think of vocabu­lary words that are related to many different topics. This game works well as a whole-class activity or as a competition among groups.

5. Picture This – In a Minute

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

   In a Minute provides students with practice forming questions that begin with wh- words: who, what, when, where, why, and how. First, players read and respond to the six ques­tions on a Picture This card. Then players race to write as many questions as they can in a set amount of time. This game works best in small groups.

6. Target Language Use in the Classroom: Teaching Speaking Differently

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

   This session, "Target Language Use in the Classroom: Teaching Speaking Differently," shares engaging strategies for effectively incorporating authentic target language in EFL lessons: in classroom routines, in language practice, as well as in assessments of speaking gains.

7. Developing Grammar Proficiency Through Communicative Activities

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

   This session, "Developing Grammar Proficiency Through Communicative Activities," explores key principles associated with communicative grammar instruction.

8. Creative Classroom Activities

   Format(s): Text

   Creative Classroom Activities is the second of a two-volume anthology of articles published between 1989 and 1993 in English Teaching Forum. Download the e-book or PDF.

9. A-Z List of Publications

   Format(s): Text

   Browse the list of publications and resources produced by the U.S. Department of State, Office of English Language Programs for English language teachers and learners.

10. Using Brain-based Strategies and Critical Thinking to Maximize Vocabulary Acquisition

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

    This interactive webinar will focus on maximizing vocabulary acquisition for English learners with a focus on easy-to-implement classroom strategies and activities based on brain-based learning and critical thinking.

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