Site Search | American English

Using Music, Chants, and Movement

In: Teacher's Corner: Teaching Young Learners Format(s): Text

This Teacher’s Corner discusses how to use music, chants, and movement to create a lively, engaging classroom that appeals to multiple learning styles.

Are You Listening? (Backchannel Behaviors)

In: Teaching Pragmatics Format(s): Text, Video, Website

This lesson aims to promote awareness of short responses during conversations such as uh-huh and yeah known as backchannel behaviors; to increase awareness of cultural differences in backchannel behaviors; to allow students to practice behaviors that indicate active listening.

Module 2: Building Language Awareness

In: Shaping the Way We Teach English: Successful Practices Around the World Format(s): Text, Video

This Module of the Shaping the Way we Teach English Series contains a lesson plan and accompanying video that is focused on the details of the language within the context of language input.

Seismic Sleuths

Format(s): Text, Website, Image / Poster / Maps

Have you ever wondered what causes earthquakes? The Federal Emergency Management Agency presents a six unit activity package that assesses student knowledge of earthquakes and provides information about preparedness and emergency management.

Using Comics in the English Language Classroom

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

This webinar demonstrates the universality of comics for any language classroom, showing how multi-skill comic activities can be used with students of all ages and ability levels.

MA KINGS ENS EOF WORDS

In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 1 Format(s): Text

This article, "Making Sense of Words", stresses the importance of vocabulary because of its role in communicative competence. Corpus linguistics has changed the way we consider vocabulary teaching, from isolated words to language chunks and fixed expressions. It has shown us differences between spoken and written English. This article looks at what it means to know a word and the principles and techniques to develop vocabulary. The author recommends teaching vocabulary explicitly, including collocates and word parts. He encourages teachers to update their own knowledge of how to discuss and approach vocabulary.

Classroom Activities

In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 1 Format(s): Text

This section presents three stand-alone learning activities related to the theme of knitting. A lesson for upper beginners uses the topic of knitting to teach clothing-related vocabulary. A lesson for intermediate learners uses an essay on knitting circles for a paragraph-ordering activity. An advanced lesson helps students understand idioms related to knitting. The lesson plan includes printable idiom cards.

Using Replacement Performance Role-Plays in the Language Classroom

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

Replacement performance role plays are a different type of role play. Rather than memorizing or writing a dialogue, this activity asks learners to listen and consider other possible responses. Students decide which character will be replaced and what they will do differently. Even shy learners or ones with lower proficiency levels can be involved because it is less overwhelming than writing a dialogue. The activity develops pragmatic competence and critical thinking skills. Popular TV shows can be used.

PBS Learning Media

Format(s): Website

PBS LearningMedia™ is the go-to destination for instant access to tens of thousands of classroom-ready, digital resources including videos, games, audio clips, photos, lesson plans, and more!

The Prisoner’s Dilemma – A Game of Decision-Making