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1. Activate Games for Learning English - Guess What?

   Format(s): Text

   Guess What? cards can be used for a variety of games in the classroom to provide an opportunity for students to practice making descriptions in English and to learn English vocabulary.

2. Fun with Grammar: Bringing Language Learning to Life through Games

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

   This Webinar, "Fun with Grammar - Bringing Language Learning to Life through Games," examines games that motivate students to learn from and engage in grammar activities.

3. Hidden Pictures: An Integrated Speaking and Listening Activity

   In: English Teaching Forum 2024, Volume 62, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   Author Heather Gaddis provides a detailed, step-by-step description of an original activity in which students examine and describe pictures that are similar to one another. The author includes suggestions for adapting the activity for different purposes and for integrating themes—which teachers can choose—into the activity for targeted practice.

4. Create to Communicate: Sculpture

   In: Create to Communicate: Art Activities for the EFL Classroom Format(s): Text

   This section focused on sculpting contains six lesson plans focusing on yes/no questions, comparatives and superlatives, past and present progressive, and adverbs of frequency.

5. Beyond Proficiency: Nurturing Critical Thinking Skills in the EFL Classroom

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

   Develop a shared understanding of what it means to “think critically," and examine why teachers should devote time to helping students develop a critical thinking mindset.

6. Bear Fights: An Ursine Introduction to Debating in the EFL Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2023, Volume 61, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   Author Charlie Taylor describes a simple yet clever technique to introduce students to “debating” in a fun, creative way. Read the article to learn how “bears with superpowers” can help your students learn and practice basic principles of debating.   

7. The Happiness Game: A Board Game for Almost Any Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2023, Volume 61, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   Daniel Clausen created The Happiness Game in part because he believes that “teaching should be a happy profession and that students should come out of the classroom with a smile.” The article includes a game board and sample game cards—although teachers and students are encouraged to create more of their own. The game is adaptable for multiple learning levels and is designed to give students practice in English … and, of course, to make them happy.

8. Telephone Conversation Openings

   In: Teaching Pragmatics Format(s): Text, Video, Website

   This lesson aims to develop awareness and understanding of the nature of telephone conversation openings from a social, interactional perspective.

9. Promoting Solidarity in Short Interactions

   In: Teaching Pragmatics Format(s): Text, Video, Website

   This lesson in Teaching Pragmatics aims to raise awareness of and give practice in using strategies of relexicalisation for descriptive accounts and for promoting solidarity in short interactions. A sub-goal is to provide students with interesting and natural vehicles for vocabulary development, recycling and revision.

10. Communication Practice vs. Pattern Practice or A Live Teacher Is Absolutely Necessary

    In: English Teaching Forum 2012, Volume 50, Number 4 Format(s): Text

    This article, originally published in 1971, posits that the main goal of language learning is communication and that classroom work should concentrate on developing students’ communication skills. Communication-practice drills are presented and discussed.

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