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1. Picturing America: Masterpieces of American Art

   Format(s): Website

   Pictures of famous American art with accompanying lesson plans from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

2. Integrating Indigenous Cultures into English Language Teaching

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

   The authors present a variety of EFL lesson plans focused on various cultures of the world (e.g., Bantu storytelling, Maori tattoos, Native American star quilts). Teachers are encouraged to help students connect with their own cultures to keep them alive.

3. Building a Class Library Using Local Folktales

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   In areas of the world such as Nigeria where reading is not a central part of the culture, teachers may face a shortage of reading materials. One way to address this problem is by asking students to create their own reading materials. The activity described in this article focuses on a way students can engage in process learning by writing down oral folktales. Because students work in groups, they must communicate with each other in English to write and prepare their book. Students produce a tangible object from their learning that can be used to build a reading library.

4. From Passive Participant to Active Thinker

   In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses how, through materials development, teachers can help students think critically and feel comfortable enough to be active participants in class. The author suggests adapting materials to be more relevant to the interests and needs of students in a particular context. Another suggestion is to create materials that help students connect their thoughts and feelings to the language they are learning. The author includes techniques to promote critical thinking and learner autonomy.

5. Using Favorite Songs and Poems with Young Learners

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

   In this article, the author discusses the benefits of using songs and poems to teach young learners. The author explains how songs and poems can be used in English class and what their benefits are. The author explains how teachers can use actions or puppets to accompany the selected songs or poems, or allow young learners to create ideas themselves. Each suggestion includes an activity. The author also offers an example of a song chart.

6. Animating Your Instruction: Using Comics and Graphic Novels in the English Language Classroom

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

   "Animating Your Instruction: Using Comics and Graphic Novels in the English Language Classroom" explores the popularity of illustrated stories among teachers and students alike and offers suggestions on how to use them to “animate” your classes.

7. C.A.R.E.: A Methodological Framework for Using Pop Songs in the EL2 Classroom

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

   Author Harald Spann explains the C.A.R.E. framework to support “planning and teaching pop-song lessons in different learning contexts.” Using the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” as an anchor, the author provides numerous examples of how teachers can apply the framework (covering creativity, analysis, response, and English) for multiple purposes.

8. Regrets and Wishes of the Rich, Famous, or Fictional

   In: Teacher's Corner: Conditionals Format(s): Text

   In this activity, students will practice or review using conditionals to express wishes and regrets about the past. This conditional form used in this situation is often called the past unreal conditional or the third conditional.

9. Tools for Activating Materials and Tasks in the English Language Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This article presents techniques to make classroom materials and tasks more interactive and student-centered and thus motivate learners to take more control over their own learning. It demonstrates these techniques through elicitation, gapping, and adaptation/extension strategies. The article offers examples of classroom activities with detailed instructions to show how teachers can use materials and tasks in the English language classroom to address students’ interests, needs, and goals.

10. Strategies for Engaging Young Learners

    Format(s): Text

    The difficulty in teaching young learners (YLs) in the EFL classroom is maintaining engagement throughout the lesson. Therefore, teachers of YLs need to incorporate activities that are meaningful, engaging, and also entertaining. This webinar will share practical tips and ideas for engaging young learners in the EFL classroom, including using fun songs with humor, using actions to accompany poetry and song lyrics, and promoting creativity. We will also focus on techniques for making input comprehensible, such as using gestures, visuals, and realia as learning tools. When using a variety of techniques and activities, children forget they are in a step-by-step language lesson, and the learning comes naturally.

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