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1. Classroom Techniques: Communicative Activities for Middle School Classrooms

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

   The author states that communicative activities, known to help language learning, can be difficult to use with middle school students. The author offers four suggestions for carrying out communicative activities and presents two activities that are designed to motivate students to use English to express their views.

2. Adapting Your Materials for Use in Mixed Ability Classrooms

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

   This session, "Adapting Your Materials for Use in Mixed Ability Classrooms," addresses the challenge of dealing with large classes of students with mixed abilities.

3. Random or Intentional? Putting Learners in Groups that Work

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

   This session, “Random or Intentional? Putting Learners in Groups that Work,” helps participants reflect on and share the different types of EFL group work activities they use as well as the methods they use to create small groups. The session will also explore three grouping strategy categories and will review several fun, creative techniques for establishing effective groups.

4. Opening and Closing Routines for Multi-Level Classrooms

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

   This session, "Opening and Closing Routines for Multi-Level Classrooms ," demonstrates how to create strong beginnings and endings during language lessons to help teachers meet mixed-level student needs as well as their curriculum requirements.

5. Hands-on Language Learning with Mobile Devices

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

   This, session "We Like to Move It! Hands-on Language Learning with Mobile Devices," introduces mobile language learning activities that require no internet connection.

6. Building Autonomy through Cooperative Classroom Management

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

   This webinar demonstrates techniques that assist in creating effective cooperative and communicative classrooms, especially in classes of 20 students or more.

7. Classroom Activities

   In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   These classrooms activities, which are designed for beginner, intermediate, and advanced students, focus on the issue’s fishing theme. Classroom activities include written and oral work, vocabulary, team work and individual work. Lessons include creating a vocabulary card game, oral story telling based on the “fish story” concept of telling exaggerated stories, and the creation of a persuasive piece. Variations are included to expand and vary the lessons.

8. Reconceptualizing Interactional Groups: Grouping Schemes for Maximizing Language Learning

   In: English Teaching Forum 2010, Volume 48, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   While noting the research on the benefits of learner interaction, this article states that more attention needs to be given to strategies for planning successful group work while avoiding the problems that can come with group activities. The author gives guidelines for forming groups, such as how many students to put in each group, whether to use flexible or fixed groupings, and how to divide students (by personal affiliation, oral language ability, personality, L1, and academic interests). Also addressed are guidelines for designing tasks and assigning group roles.

9. Student Storytelling through Sequential Art

   In: English Teaching Forum 2007, Volume 45, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   If you are interested in using sequential art forms such as comic books in your EFL classroom, this article is full of helpful advice. Reading sequential art is beneficial because students can work with authentic texts with real language and graphic support. Students can also apply research and cultural knowledge to the creation of their own sequential art projects. The author addresses managing project groups, researching the topic, developing the story, structuring the story, adding artwork, and sharing the story. The creations can be used as reading material for future classes.

10. U.S. National Parks: Protecting Nature and Providing Enjoyment

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

    This feature article on national parks is appropriate for use with higher intermediate or advanced learners. It offers vivid photos and describes the history of national parks, their creation, management, and expansion. The author discusses features of parks from different regions of the country: Acadia National Park (Maine), Denali National Park and Preserve (Alaska), Everglades National Park (Florida), Glacier National Park (Montana), and Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona). Information about the national parks conservation association and the national park foundation is also included.

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