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Baseball: A National Tradition

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

This article, written for language learners, gives an overview of the sport of baseball, known as America’s “national pastime.” The author describes the history of the sport as well as how to play it. The author talks about the types of people who play baseball, from young children to the major leagues, as well as baseball’s role in pop culture. Also included are a brief glossary, websites of interest, and a look at the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Lesson Plan: Baseball Stories, Cards,and Interviews

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

This lesson plan offers an opportunity for students to practice their language skills and learn more about the sport of baseball. There are three activities (that will take at least one class period each) aimed at a variety of levels. Students create baseball cards of themselves and flash cards about the sport, and participate in interview role-plays as famous baseball players. Extension activities are included.

Lesson Plan: Sharing Your Vacation - Send a Postcard!

In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 4 Format(s): Text

This lesson plan for intermediate students is based on a fact sheet about Chicago and the idea of writing a postcard to family members during vacation. It describes a warm-up activity and several activities for writing and reading a postcard. The lesson aims to strengthen learners’ vocabulary and literacy skills using authentic materials.

U.S. Mint for Kids

Format(s): Website

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has a fun and engaging site for kids on how money is produced and distributed.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Kid’s Page

Format(s): Website

Explore and learn about fish, wildlife, plants, and habitats and how you can help conserve, protect, and enhance them.

A Tale of Two Animals

In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 2 Format(s): Text

An Indonesian fable is the theme of this three-part lesson for young learners. Students practice with the past-tense verbs used in the fable. By listening, reading and ordering the sentences, and copying a paragraph of the story, students become very familiar with the fable. The lessons finish with homework to write a play based on the fable. Students may select and perform the best play from their group.

Houseboats

In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 2 Format(s): Text

This lesson uses a text about the houseboats of Kashmir to give students practice with descriptions, compound words, and participles. The lesson plan could be adapted to tourist destinations familiar to the students. Students are asked to write a description of their homes and create a tourism brochure for their own cities or towns.

Classroom Activities

In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 4 Format(s): Text

This section presents three stand-alone learning activities related to the theme of bowling. A game for upper beginners is useful for sentence formation and vocabulary review on any topic. Intermediate learners can practice with imperatives by giving and following instructions on how to bowl. The final activity asks intermediate learners to engage in focused listening or reading. Extension possibilities are included for each of the three activities.

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.

Developing Grammar Proficiency Through Communicative Activities