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Activity 3 - Self-Assessment

In: Teacher's Corner: Making Meaningful Assessments Format(s): Text

In this week’s Teacher’s Corner, we will look at the role that students play in assessment through assessment creation and self-reflection.

Considerations for Adapting Materials to Meet Learner Needs

In: Teacher's Corner: Adapting Materials for Students' Levels Format(s): Text

When adapting materials for language learners, teachers must consider a number of factors in order to offer an effective and relevant activity.

Using L1 in the L2 Classroom

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

There may be more to the use of L1 in the L2 classroom than previously thought. Recent findings show that L1 usage values the native culture and language of the students, allowing them to feel comfortable taking risks in English. The author distributed a questionnaire on Spanish usage to English language students and professors at a Puerto Rican university. Results showed that both students and teachers felt there were clear instances where Spanish would help understanding. The author also shares his own personal experiences as a Spanish-speaking English teacher.

Effective Questions

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

Teachers ask many questions in the classroom, but not all are useful. Questions that the teacher already knows the answer to are known as display questions. These are often asked for the student to display knowledge. Questions where the teacher does not already know the answer are meaning based and known as referential questions. This article explains the problems with relying on display questions in the L2 classroom. This distinction applies to reading comprehension questions as well as oral questions.

Keeping Discipline in the Classroom

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

This article discusses the challenges of keeping order in the classroom and provides suggestions for fostering an environment of mutual respect. The article looks at what students expect of teachers as well as temporary games and long-term strategies that students use to take control from the teacher. Some practical solutions to discipline problems include keeping students’ attention, establishing clear rules together, and addressing discipline problems by using nonverbal and verbal cues before reacting to the problem.

Activity: Environmental Conservation Jazz Chants

Chants provide an excellent opportunity for campers or students to move around. Counselors or teachers can demonstrate clapping, foot stamping, finger snapping, or other movements that go with chanted words’ rhythmic patterns. Using movement with chants is fun and provides exercise, which can allow for better retention and learning.

#MyClassroom

Format(s): Video

We asked teachers from around the world to describe their classrooms. Here are some of their stories. #MyClassroom #AEforEducators #ELFellowProgram

Using Games in the Classroom to Build Vocabulary and Grammar Skills

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

This session, "Using Games in the Classroom to Build Vocabulary and Grammar Skills," focuses on movement in the classroom.

Superpowering Your Lecture: Activities to Engage Learners and Gather Feedback

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

This session, “Superpowering Your Lecture: Activities to Engage Learners and Gather Feedback,” explores several interactive, ready-to-use activities designed to motivate learners enrolled in lecture-style classes; these approaches also enable the instructor to gather crucial information about their students’ progress and understanding of the material.

Enliven Your Class and Engage Your Students with Fun Facts

In: English Teaching Forum 2023, Volume 61, Number 1 Format(s): Text

Stephen Mark Silvers enlivens this article with dozens of “fun facts” while also explaining how teachers can use such facts to motivate students and develop students’ English skills in creative ways. The author, who notes that students’ responses to the facts will be “authentic and meaningful,” provides a number of sources where teachers can find fun facts to use with their classes.