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1. Practical Activities for Balanced Listening Instruction

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

   This webinar will introduce activities to develop students' listening skills in all of these areas; these activities can make your listening instruction both easier and more effective.

2. Simple Down

   In: American Rhythms Format(s): MP3

   In Simple Down, California-based artist Lael Neale uses guitars and the banjo to sing about living a simpler life.

3. We Dig Worms

   In: American Rhythms Format(s): MP3

   In this folk song, singer Zach Ladin reminds listeners young and old of the importance of all creatures in nature. Download the song or listen online!

4. Poetry Foundation

   Format(s): Website

   Visit the learning lab and learn about historic or contemporary poets or find a poem for almost any special occasion. Discover and celebrate the best poetry at the Poetry Foundation.

5. Foundations of TESOL Methodology

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

   This session, "Foundations of TESOL Methodology," introduces key theories and practices in language teaching, and participants will improve their understanding of language teaching methods and principles. We will begin with an introduction to research-based instructional approaches to language education. We will then discuss different approaches to and purposes for language teaching. As we conclude, participants will have the opportunity to consider how they can apply the language teaching methods and techniques that were presented to their particular teaching context.

6. The Conversation Class

   In: English Teaching Forum 2012, Volume 50, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses conversation classes, drawing from the author’s experience teaching Persian ESL. The author offers eight guidelines for effective teaching: cultivate a relaxed atmosphere (with six suggestions for doing this), be alert and foster alertness, be enthusiastic and engender enthusiasm, be patient, be sensitive, think, listen, and make corrections. The article finishes with a number of suggested topics and activities for promoting conversation.

7. Abstracts from Other Journals

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

   "Abstracts from Other Journals” discusses three articles from other journals on different issues related to second or foreign language teaching. The first is on “A Defence of Simplification” by I. S. P. Nation and Jean Paul Deweerdt, from Prospect. The second is “Building Community and Posting Projects: Creating ‘Student Pages’ in Web-Based and Web-Enhanced Courses” by Laura G. McGee, from Foreign Language Annals. The third is “Realism and Imagination in the Teaching of English”by Anthea Fraser Gupta, from World Englishes.

8. English Magazines = Motivation + Improved ESL Writing Skills

   In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 1 Format(s): Text

   Creating and editing a magazine in English is a challenging and motivating type of portfolio assessment. It encourages student fluency and freedom by allowing students to choose their own topics for writing. It is real communication for a real audience and requires students to take responsibility for their own writing. It can also make the teacher’s job more enjoyable. The article describes a magazine-editing project for an intermediate university writing class. The students performed well on the national writing examination.

9. Morning Discussion as a Communicative Activity

   In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 4 Format(s): Text

   This article describes freshman university students in China. They started their day with Morning Discussion, a student-hosted discussion of relevant topics. BBC and VOA reports were useful sources. The discussions offered opportunities for negotiation, clarification, and building communicative competence. As students took responsibility for the topics, classroom set up, and participation, their confidence grew. This was very successful, as shown by comments in students’ weekly diaries. Instructors stayed out of debates and did not interrupt to offer corrections.

10. First Road to Learning: Language through Stories

    In: English Teaching Forum 2006, Volume 44, Number 2 Format(s): Text

    This article discusses the benefits of using stories in language teaching and ideas of how to use stories in the classroom. The authors believe that stories can help solve the problems caused by limited resources and are good ways to teach culture. They describe types of stories and how they can be used in teaching speaking, listening, reading, writing, integrated skills, and critical thinking.

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