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1. Identifying Our Approaches to Language Learning Technologies: Improving Professional Development

   In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article emphasizes Warschauer's Model, explaining the three positions that researchers working in the field of language technology are concerned about: determinist or technophobe and technophile, instrumental, and critical. The article discusses the importance and application of Warschauer’s Model to professional development, offering ideas for activities and lesson plans related to each position held.

2. Tools for Activating Materials and Tasks in the English Language Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This article presents techniques to make classroom materials and tasks more interactive and student-centered and thus motivate learners to take more control over their own learning. It demonstrates these techniques through elicitation, gapping, and adaptation/extension strategies. The article offers examples of classroom activities with detailed instructions to show how teachers can use materials and tasks in the English language classroom to address students’ interests, needs, and goals.

3. English Teaching Forum 2016, Volume 54, Number 4

   Format(s): Text

   Find suggestions for vocabulary games, crowdsourced language learning, literary coaching—and much more.

4. English Proficiency Test: The Oral Component of a Primary School

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

   This article discusses the various problems found when teachers try to design the oral production part of English proficiency tests for young learners. The authors discuss matters such as intimidation or the possibility of relating the test too much to other conventional tests. They offer ways to address these issues, including testing for fluency, using elicitation procedures, and changing the view of the test into a more relaxed game-like scenario. The authors provide examples of where these ideas have been implemented.

5. English Teaching Forum 2019, Volume 57, Number 3

   Format(s): Text

   Find activities to help learners explore and express culture —and much more.

6. Information Gap in Communicative Classrooms

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

   The author argues that exchanges in the classroom must go beyond display questions and should be based on the information gap that occurs when one speaker does not know in advance what the other is going to say. The author provides examples of information gap activities to promote a communicative classroom. Activity types include practical situations, guessing games, role plays, opinion gap activities, and reasoning gap activities. The author argues that these activities have real communicative value.

7. English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 3

   Format(s): Text

   The feature article focuses on Virginia, The Old Dominion, and a companion lesson plan is titled “Virginia: Jamestown and Its People.” Other articles in this issue explore literary analysis in the EFL classroom, English instruction for the tourist industry, livening up college English classes with games, using VOA Special English to improve vocabulary, and motivating students to read.

8. Ten Things to Enhance Learning and Fun in the Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2016, Volume 54, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This Teaching Technique introduces a fun, versatile game that gets students thinking and talking together about any number of topic categories.

9. A View of the Past: The First Decade (1963 - 1972)

   In: English Teaching Forum 2002 (Volume 40, Number 1) Format(s): Text

   “A View of the Past” is a special edition article that reflects major trends in English Language Teaching over the past 40 years. Included are four excerpts from the first decade of Forum. The excerpts include games for various classroom levels, intended for motivating language practice. There are guidelines for a conversation class, including emphasis on the atmosphere and enthusiasm, as well as understanding language change and the idea of a humanistic approach.

10. Teacher Resources

    In: English Teaching Forum 2002 (Volume 40, Number 1) Format(s): Text

    Information about four resource books is provided. The first, “Film,” contains 68 games and activities based on films, each designed for students at various levels of proficiency. The second, “Imaginative Project,” includes project work and lesson plans for 11 to 17 year olds. The third, "Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages,” is a reference that contains 30 chapters on current topics about language teaching. Lastly, “American Roots” provides various readings on U.S. cultural history as well as various intermediate level exercises on the topic.

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