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1. Using Story Boxes in Language Learning

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

   This article outlines how to bring stories alive through the use of story boxes (or bags). The author suggests that teachers use easy-to-find materials such as shoeboxes or pizza boxes. These can be filled with a variety of small surprise items related to the content. The teacher or the students can find items for these boxes. Story boxes can easily be moved and stored. They can be used in identifying themes or for vocabulary and grammar exercises, and they work well with learners of all ages.

2. Growing Up with TESOL

   In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This article describes influences on the development of English language teaching since the 1970s. It discusses two types of influences. The first influence is external: The increasing demand for efficient TESOL programs as a result of the international role of the English language, which has brought more professionalism and accountability to the field through standards. The second influence is more internal: The desire to expand TESOL’s goals and concerns to better understand the concept of English language teaching, teachers, and their education.

3. 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.

4. From Passive Learners to Critical Thinkers: Preparing EFL Students for University Success

   In: English Teaching Forum 2010, Volume 48, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article explains how the Bangladesh Rehabilitation Assistance Committee (BRAC) revised their curriculum to best prepare EFL students for English-speaking universities. After completing a needs analysis on how to best serve their students, the committee decided to make a more interactive classroom environment in which teachers integrated the four skills, used critical thinking activities, taught grammar in context, and used various methods of assessment. Feedback showed that both the students and the teachers responded positively to the changes.

5. Open Classroom Communication and the Learning of Citizenship Values

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

   This article discusses the importance of fostering citizenship values in language classrooms around the world, and specifically in Morocco. Class content, student-teacher roles, classroom activities, and teacher education can promote civic values of equality, respect, responsibility, tolerance, and compassion. A learner-centered environment where there is group work, open communication, and participation, models these values. By including cultural content and engaging students with meaningful issues, teachers can increase interest and motivation.

6. Good Teaching is Timeless

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

   The author provides an introduction to three of the articles reprinted in this volume by framing them as what effective teachers have been doing through time and must continue to do.

7. English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 1

   Format(s): Text

   This issue features Hawaii, and a lesson plan guides teachers in exploring Hawaiian culture, and their own cultures, with their students. Other articles discuss integrating indigenous cultures into English language teaching, integrating critical thinking into language teaching, using story boxes in the classroom, and learning to hypothesize through Sudoku game play.

8. News & Notes

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This entry tells readers that audio from vinyl records included in Forum over 20 years ago is now available free via the Internet at www.antimoon.com. The audio files includes shaggy dog jokes and a train story. There is also an announcement of a new journal, the Journal of English for Academic Purposes, which started last year to keep EAP teachers and researchers up to date.

9. Testing Writing in the EFL Classroom: Student Expectations

   In: English Teaching Forum 2002, Volume 40, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article reports on the inconsistency between the expected and actual grades of learners of English as foreign language in freshman English writing classes. It discusses the differences between students’ and instructors’ perceptions of acceptable essay writing. It suggests that teachers develop valid and reliable testing procedures and help students to increase their awareness and understanding of the proficiency levels required to write essays.

10. Helping Students Develop Coherence in Writing

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

    This article discusses the need to bring coherence in writing from an abstract level to a concrete concept that can be described and taught. Teachers need to teach coherence by sharing its metalanguage with students. This can be done for example by using more specific comments such as “unclear reference” or “inappropriate conjunction” instead of vague ones such as “the essay lacks unity.” The article offers a coherence checklist for students to self-edit and to review their peers’ writing.

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