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1. Teaching Pragmatics

   Format(s): Text

   Teaching Pragmatics explores the teaching of pragmatics through lessons and activities.

2. Noun Compounds and Compressed Definitions

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

   This article discusses the difficulty of understanding noun compounds in professional texts in science and technology, business, medicine, law, and other areas of English for Specific Purposes (ESP). It provides techniques and activities to teach students how to decode noun compounds to see the link between definitions, which are usually familiar, and noun compounds, which are usually not familiar. These strategies can help students overcome this difficulty in reading advanced and specialized texts.

3. Understanding Documentation and Draft Writing for Business English

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

   This webinar considers how context, content, and tone can help make business-related draft writing processes more effective and enjoyable for both writers and readers.

4. What is English for Specific Purposes?

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article gives examples of the lessons the author learned from years of teaching ESP. She learned to investigate authentic material thoroughly before making assumptions about learner needs. She tells of occasions on which she relied on the input from textbook writers and job supervisors who made errors in analyzing what students most needed in their language classes. She discussed a learner-focused style, which follows the theory that career development and language development follow the same path, from specific and technical to context- and experience-based.

5. Useful Resources for Editing Academic Writing in English

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

   This article describes how the author assisted graduate students with academic writing in English. It also shares useful resources for teachers in non-English speaking countries who are responsible for editing academic theses and dissertations, professional articles, and papers for international conferences. The author's editing process includes corrections written on the paper as well as typed, detailed explanations of grammar points and suggestions for rewording or reorganization. Online and print resources are included.

6. Internet Content-Based Activities for ESP

   In: English Teaching Forum 2002, Volume 40, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   The article introduces a WebQuest, an inquiry-based online learning activity, as a potential tool for content-based English for Specific Purposes (ESP). It provides a series of WebQuest tasks such as summary and synthesis tasks, design tasks, negotiation and interaction tasks, analytical tasks, and scientific tasks. The article has suggestions for the effective use of WebQuests for a content-based syllabus along with a discussion of the benefits of using WebQuests to develop academic skills.

7. 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.

8. Between the ESP Classroom and the Workplace: Bridging the Gap

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses the need to bridge the gap between ESP classroom content and activities, and workplace needs. It suggests using observation, interviews, and questionnaires from the workplace to make teaching methods in ESP classrooms match employment needs. The article offers an example of this from Morocco, where the ESP textbook was supplemented with data gathered from employers and employees in the local hospitality industry.

9. Techniques for Students New to the Language Lab

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

   This article presents techniques that can be used in the university language lab to improve listening and speaking skills. The article describes several tasks for pairs and groups. Lessons begin with a popular English song and a warm up activity. Materials expose students to the formal and informal language of native speakers and fluent non-native speakers. Drills, stories, songs, and conversations make the language lab a beneficial resource. An initial session highlights the unique aspects of spoken language.

10. Integrating Authentic Materials and Language Skills in English for Science and Technology Instruction

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

    This article describes how a unit in an English for Science and Technology (EST) course integrated three learning materials: a research article from a scientific journal, an article from a magazine that reports on the scientific journal article, and an instructional video with its script. Instruction was focused on both content and rhetorical functions. The author shows how the language skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening were used for each of the three materials.

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