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1. The Lighter Side: The Write Stuff

   In: English Teaching Forum 2012, Volume 50, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   Do you like puzzles and words? Then check out this English Teaching Forum crossword puzzle.

2. Other Poems

   In: Poetry Format(s): Text

   Do you like surprises? Read a poem from this month’s selection of poems by English language learners. These poems are not categorized by theme or topic, so choose a poem and enjoy the surprise of where it takes you!

3. Maps and Legends

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

   The author of this student-directed reading, Michael Chabon, shares his experience as a pioneer of the Columbia Experiment. Columbia’s renewal was the dream of James Rouse, who put together a team of city planners to design a lovely, convenient, modern city where races lived together in harmony. Chabon writes about the impact of living with the dream and vision of the city’s development. Since the late 1960s, Columbia has grown from a few thousand people to the second largest city in Maryland.

4. Just Off Main Street

   In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 3 Format(s): Text

   “Just off Main Street” is for learner use and is an account of the writer’s experience as an Arab American. It opens with a description of the writer’s childhood and the cultural divide between life inside and outside the home. Readers will be drawn into the vivid description of daily life. The article looks at the challenges of being bi-cultural, of keeping home life separate, of being “exoticized,” of becoming comfortable and proud of one’s heritage, and of finding community. The article provides opportunities for discussions of culture, identity, and activism.

5. America

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

   What is a road trip? Why are road trips popular in the United States? Find out more with this set of activities based on music by the award winning ukulele player Victoria Vox.

6. 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.

7. An Integrated Skills Lesson Plan for "Just Off Main Street" by Elmaz Abinader

   In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 3 Format(s): Text

   This lesson plan is designed for high intermediate to advanced English language learners. Based on an authentic, contemporary essay by an accomplished American writer, the lesson plan includes tasks and activities designed to improve students’ English language skills as well as increase their understanding of American culture. The lesson includes pre-, during, and post reading activities to improve comprehension, learn new vocabulary, and make connections beyond the text. Websites of interest and useful questions for discussion or writing are included.

8. For Life's Sake

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

   In “For Life’s Sake,” author Linda Hogan provides the reader with a view of the cultural influences that have made her into the poet, essayist, and storyteller she is today. She describes how her ancestors and the beliefs she inherited as a Native American have inspired her choice of topics and shaped her writing into its unique style. Her love of trees is woven through the article. Hogan’s essay gives students a chance to understand and appreciate the life of a writer from another America. It includes her poem, “Affinity,” on the topic of horses, as well as a glossary of terms.

9. Houseboats

   In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This lesson uses a text about the houseboats of Kashmir to give students practice with descriptions, compound words, and participles. The lesson plan could be adapted to tourist destinations familiar to the students. Students are asked to write a description of their homes and create a tourism brochure for their own cities or towns.

10. Localvore

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

    In the folk song Localvore, Zach Ladin sings about supporting local foods, businesses, and communities. Download the MP3 or listen online.

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