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1. Teaching Weak Forms

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article describes a pronunciation concept referred to as the weak form, a compression of sounds used to keep the rhythm of spoken English. The author uses the word “that” as an example. Stressing or not stressing the word “that” when reading aloud the sentence “John thinks that man is evil” changes the meaning. Reading “that” as unstressed is an example of the weak form. The author provides examples of how to teach the weak form to provide students with better spoken English and better comprehension.

2. Save the Lofty Trees

   In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This is a script for a play called “Save the Lofty Trees,” intended for students use in ESL classrooms and is intended for young learners. This play gives students a chance to take part in group work by acting out the various scenes of the script. This will provide students with opportunities to use their skills and build fluency.

3. Classroom Techniques: - What a Feeling!

   In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article argues for the use of collaborative writing through poems in the ESL classroom. This activity gives students the motivation to express their creativity while improving teamwork skills that are important outside of the classroom. The author describes how collaborative poetry is introduced and carried out, gives examples of student poems, and suggests how the activity can be used with other genres as well.

4. Maximizing the Benefits of Project Work in Foreign Language Classrooms

   In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   There are many benefits to using project work in the classroom, such as student autonomy, increased content knowledge, and motivation. This article gives ten steps for structuring project activities to maximize these benefits, using a case study on project-based learning in an English preparatory program in Turkey. Also included are recommendations for writers on how to include project-based learning in their materials.

5. VOA Podcast: "42" Tells the Story of Jackie Robinson's Major League Breakthrough

   In: VOA Podcasts: Shows in Special English Format(s): MP3, Website

   Learn about Jackie Robinson in this podcast from VOA Learning English. Learn English as you read and listen to a weekly show about people in America, including study in the U.S. Stories are written at the intermediate and upper-beginner level and are read one-third slower than regular VOA English.

6. VOA Podcast: Words and Their Stories: Dog Talk

   In: VOA Podcasts: Shows in Special English Format(s): MP3, Text

   From Voice of America Podcasts in Special English. Americans use many expressions with the word dog. Learn about their love for the animal and how they use the word. Download the MP3 or listen online.

7. VOA Podcast: Making of a Nation: The Heart of the Constitution

   In: VOA Podcasts: Shows in Special English Format(s): MP3, Text

   From Voice of America Podcasts in Special English. Take a look at the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution. Download the MP3 or listen online.

8. Create to Communicate: Collage

   In: Create to Communicate: Art Activities for the EFL Classroom Format(s): Text

   This section contains five lesson plans focusing on imperatives, present continuous, wh-questions, contrastive nouns, and future aspect using will focusing on high beginner to advanced proficiency levels.

9. Hello, I must be going!

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

   This lesson aims for students to become more fluent in using and understanding basic greetings and leave-takings in brief "small talk" encounters.

10. Softening Short Requests

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

    This lesson aims to introduce students to a range of different ways in which native speakers soften their requests and to develop their awareness of how these are used by different speakers and in different situations within the speech community.

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