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1. Creating Cartoons: A Learner-Centered Approach to Comprehending Texts

   In: English Teaching Forum 2017, Volume 55, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article carefully describes the technique of having learners create cartoons based on a reading passage to explore their understanding of the passage and to help teachers reflect on what the learners comprehended.

2. Empowering Students to Solve Local Problems: Adapting Materials with Service Learning

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

   This session, "Empowering Students to Solve Local Problems: Adapting Materials with Service Learning," introduces participants to the concept of Service Learning as a teaching strategy that promotes meaningful experiential learning through community service and reflective classroom activities.

3. The Monster Book of Language Teaching Activities

   Format(s): Text

   The Monster Book, has over 150 activities intended to liven up the language classroom, giving students active options for practicing the four skills.

4. Chapter 2: Controversial Issues in Gene Research

   In: Language and Life Sciences E-Journal Format(s): Text

   This chapter in the Advances of Biotechnology volume of the Language and Science e-journal focuses on the issues surrounding the Human Genome Project.

5. The STAIR Framework for Interactive Online Activities

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

   This session, "The STAIR Framework for Interactive Online Activities," defines and explores the STAIR Framework, a four-part instructional design approach that builds dynamic student interaction into online or in-class activities.

6. Becoming a News Reporter: A Case Study in Project-Based Learning

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

   This session, "Becoming a News Reporter: A Case Study in Project-Based Learning," presents an example project in which students created television-style newscasts about community issues; participants consider how to overcome challenges associated with PBL and how to develop meaningful project ideas for their own teaching contexts.

7. Student Documentaries: A Language Learning Tool

   In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article describes the reasons for project-based learning and how it better motivates students in an EFL classroom. It illustrates this topic by presenting a documentary film project that was carried out in a high-intermediate EFL class in Saudi Arabia. The article summarizes the theoretical support for communicative language learning and project-based approaches. The author then describes the documentary film project in detail and presents an evaluation of the project based on Simkins et al.’s (2002) framework of evaluation for multimedia projects.

8. Using Mobile Phone Technology in EFL Classes

   In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This article explains how students can use their mobile phones to produce video projects and use English for meaningful communication. The author first explains what communicative competence is and why it is important. The author then discusses difficulties of putting principles of communicative language teaching into practice, which is the main rationale behind the author’s idea. Finally, the author describes four video projects and several activities based on mobile phone features.

9. Lesson Plan: Going Green

   In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   The lesson plan, “Going Green,” allows students to develop research and problem-solving skills on the theme of environmental conservation. The lesson includes a glossary of environmental terms. It uses a learner-centered approach as learners work in groups to determine their topic, the vocabulary they want to learn, how to collect information, how to report it (qualitatively or quantitatively), and what action to take based on the results. Students report their findings and action plan in a poster presentation. Creative writing, a debate, or a "green fair" are optional extensions.

10. Reading to Speak: Integrating Oral Communication Skills

    In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 1 Format(s): Text

    Although students want to practice speaking English, they do not have many opportunities to do so in the Chinese EFL system. This often results in something called 'mute English.' This article suggests a greater integration of skills through reading to speak activities. The author includes activities for reading to act, reading to debate, and reading to interview. These activities move students away from a focus on form, allowing students to be creative and build fluency.

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