Site Search | American English

Using Story Jokes for Real Communication

In: English Teaching Forum 2012, Volume 50, Number 2 Format(s): Text

English language teachers all face the obstacle of getting their students to speak in conversational English. This article, originally published in 1996, explores the use of jokes as a way to get natural conversation going in and out of the classroom and provides activities for teachers to use with their students.

Board Game: Use a Word

In: Activate Games for Learning American English: Board Games Format(s): Text

This board game provides students with a specific word they should try to use in a sentence. Download the game, instructions, and game variations.

Using Original Video and Sound Effects to Teach English

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

This article outlines a lesson plan for teaching modals of speculation that express degrees of certainty, using audio-visual techniques. It identifies the teacher's lesson preparation, required materials, and specific ways to engage students in the special interactive environment. It highlights the effectiveness of audio-visual resources to represent and illustrate abstract concepts. The article also provides ideas for variations of the lesson plan, employing video and sound effects to teach grammar, vocabulary, and creative writing.

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.

More Dialogs for Everyday Use

Format(s): Text

More Dialogs for Everyday Use contains thirty-six situation-based dialogs that present spoken American English in a natural way.

Dialogs for Everyday Use

Format(s): Text

Dialogs for Everyday Use is a collection of thirty situational dialogs that focus on a wide variety of communicative situations and natural encounters in English.

Proverbs & Quotables: Using Very Short Texts in Language Learning

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

This webinar demonstrates why and how to use short texts in the language classroom. Discover the usefulness of proverbs and actively take part in a range of activities based on very short texts. Watch the online webinar recording and or download the presentation.

Authentic Video in the Beginning ESOL Classroom: Using a Full-Length Feature Film for Listening and Speaking Strategy Practice

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

Using film in the classroom can be effective with beginning English learners. A full-length film offers continuous context to discuss humor, culture, and language functions, real-life communication with images and non-verbal cues, increased retention due to activating the right hemisphere of the brain, and the lowering of students’ affective filters. The authors include a lesson based on their experience teaching listening and speaking skills using the movie “What about Bob.” Assessment techniques and potential problems are considered.

Reciprocal Teaching: A Useful Tool in Increasing Student-Talking Time

In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 2 Format(s): Text

Reciprocal Teaching (RT) can be used to increase student talk time and improve communicative competence. This strategy uses paraphrasing, reported speech, question formation and concept-checking to promote dialogue. As students move from short responses toward longer conversations (or language for transactional purposes), their fluency and retention increase. These “long turns” provide important practice. The author also emphasizes the importance of prompts for lower-level students. The article includes examples of each strategy as well as several axioms of reciprocal teaching.

Using Group Work Effectively to Increase Student Speaking Time in Class