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1. Beyond Film: Exploring the Content of Movies

   In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This article looks at the use of movies in the language-learning classroom. The author promotes the use of the movie “To Kill a Mockingbird” due to its content, which involves poverty, racial inequality and mental illness, and to the availability of websites related to its use in English classrooms. The author highlights six scenes for understanding the movie, pre-viewing, while viewing, and post-viewing activities, as well as suggestions for Internet follow-up. An example WebQuest is included.

2. Intercultural Training with Films

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

   This article discusses the use of film in the classroom to promote a better understanding of cross-cultural interaction. Examples are provided of films that feature issues in intercultural communication, such as nonverbal communication, cultural traditions, stereotypes, and individualism vs. collectivism. The article also includes guidelines for using films in the classroom as well as pre-, during, and post-viewing activities.

3. Classroom Techniques: Using Radio Programs in the EFL Classroom

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

   The article describes how to use Voice of America (VOA) radio programs to teach English to students studying in EFL contexts. A major reason why the author believes VOA programs are a good source for English learning is because they allow the teacher to teach English through content. At the same time, VOA programs provide authentic language-learning materials. The author describes four listening activities (before listening, while listening, and after listening) using VOA radio programs.

4. Weaving the Web into an EAP Reading Program

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   The authors share their experiences developing Internet reading activities for their students in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program. The authors chose reading material found on the Internet that was authentic, up-to-date, and would increase student interest and motivation to learn English. The authors share practical considerations as well as their experience adapting laboratory activities to increase student autonomy along with other lessons learned in the process of using Internet reading materials.

5. U.S. Time Periods

   Format(s): Text, Video, Website

   Teaching and learning resources on U.S. time periods, from the Department of Education.

6. Art and Music Teaching Resources

   Format(s): Website

   Art resources including music, theatre, visual arts, and artists, provided by Federal Resources for Educational Excellence.

7. Activate: Games for Learning American English - Word Bricks

   Format(s): Text

   Word Bricks help students identify word patterns in sentences. This overview will teach you sentence structure and patterns and help you to master all of the Word Bricks games!

8. Picturing America: Masterpieces of American Art

   Format(s): Website

   Pictures of famous American art with accompanying lesson plans from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

9. Activate Games for Learning American English: Picture This

   Format(s): Text

   Picture This cards are a set of cards that can be used for a variety of conversation and word games in English classes.

10. An American Poetry Project for Low Intermediate ESL Adults

    In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 4 Format(s): Text

    This article discusses the author’s poetry unit, developed to expose her ESL students to American literature. Students wrote journals about poems they read and were assigned a poem about which to write a composition. The author required her students to memorize and perform one poem. While teaching the unit, the author and a colleague kept a dialog journal of their experience and insights. Both the student reactions and their dialog journals yielded positive results, allowing the author to make several recommendations for using poetry in the ESL classroom.

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