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1. A Postcard from America

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

   This feature article for learner use is by author Robert Olen Butler. It briefly describes the history and cultural aspects of postcards. The author provides detail about several postcards in his personal collection. He values the images and the glimpses into people’s lives as written on the postcards. A glossary of terms and images of postcards accompany the article. Appropriate for high intermediate to advanced students.

2. NASCAR: An American Sport and Pastime

   In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This article, written for students, is about NASCAR, a popular auto racing sport in the United States. It offers the history of the sport, interesting pictures, and a piece on the importance of a pit crew. There is also a profile of Jeff Gordon, a popular and winning driver. Also included are a list of NASCAR vocabulary and websites of interest, an overview of the sport and its rules, and information on three legendary drivers.

3. Picture This – ABCs

   In: Activate Games for Learning American English: Picture This Format(s): Text

   ABCs provides students with vocabulary practice by asking them to think of vocabu­lary words that are related to many different topics. This game works well as a whole-class activity or as a competition among groups.

4. Word Bricks - Sentence Race

   In: Activate: Games for Learning American English - Word Bricks Format(s): Text

   Sentence Race is a fast-paced, exciting game that gives students a chance to think quickly in English as they try to earn points by building well-formed sentences using Word Bricks.

5. Word Bricks-Brick Bingo

   In: Activate: Games for Learning American English - Word Bricks Format(s): Text

   Brick Bingo helps students make connections between the spoken and written forms of words in a fun, low-stress game. Download the game and instructions!

6. Building Global Citizenship through Intercultural Language Teaching

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

   This webinar, "Building Global Citizenship through Intercultural Language Teaching," shares research-based teaching strategies to help students develop intercultural communicative competence while sustaining their own cultural heritage.

7. Social Media as a Tool for Community Engagement

   Format(s): Text, Video

   This webinar looks beyond the framework of our current English language classrooms to prepare our students for the difficulties posed by an unknown future by deepening our teaching.

8. An Integrated Skills Lesson Plan for "A Postcard from America" by Robert Olen Butler

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

   This lesson plan is based on the feature article, “Postcards from America” by Robert Olen Butler. It is appropriate for high intermediate to advanced students. The lesson integrates the four skills and has five parts: Preparing to Read, Reading the Text, Understanding the Text, Making Connections Beyond the Text, and Integrating Language Skills. The lesson includes group discussion of comprehension questions, scanning for vocabulary, and using the dictionary.

9. An Integrated Skills Lesson Plan for "Just Off Main Street" by Elmaz Abinader

   In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 3 Format(s): Text

   This lesson plan is designed for high intermediate to advanced English language learners. Based on an authentic, contemporary essay by an accomplished American writer, the lesson plan includes tasks and activities designed to improve students’ English language skills as well as increase their understanding of American culture. The lesson includes pre-, during, and post reading activities to improve comprehension, learn new vocabulary, and make connections beyond the text. Websites of interest and useful questions for discussion or writing are included.

10. From da Vinci to Recumbent... Velocity and the Velocipede

    In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 3 Format(s): Text

    This reading on bicycles is appropriate for intermediate to advanced students. The author traces the history of the bicycle back to the nineteenth century and describes major innovations in the technological development of bikes. Modern bicycle technology and impacts are also discussed. The article presents the etymology of the word bicycle and then offers translations into other languages, illustrating that in many cases a relationship to the root of the original word remains. Additional websites of interest are also included for further reading or follow up activities.

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