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1. Using Progressive I-Can Statements to Promote Learner Confidence in Writing

   In: English Teaching Forum 2010, Volume 48, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   Language learners may sometimes feel shy and unsure of their abilities and may not be able to see what they are able to do. The authors found that writing I-can statements (e.g., I can write the names of foods in English) can be a good way to build confidence. Students use their I-can records to assess their own progress. The authors offer a starting point for teachers by presenting ideas for tasks such as copying words, writing signs, and writing about the weekend.

2. Using Anecdotes in Language Class

   In: English Teaching Forum 2008, Volume 46, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses the usefulness of anecdotes as a technique to stimulate learners’ interest and thus create a meaningful learning context in the second language classroom. It describes the pattern of an anecdote and how it should be formed as well as the different types of anecdotes. The article offers tips to successfully implement this technique.

3. Lesson Plan: Using Journalism Skills in the Language Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2006, Volume 44, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This lesson plan contains four activities based on the theme of newspapers and journalism. It includes a lesson to familiarize students with newspapers, journalistic writing, interviewing, and creating a class newspaper. The activities can be used as individual lessons or a larger project of creating a class newspaper.

4. Using Story Retelling Wheels with Young Learners

   In: English Teaching Forum 2021, Volume 59, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   The author describes how to use “story retelling wheels” as scaffolding devices to support young learners as they develop the important skill of being able to retell stories that they have heard and comprehended.

5. Using Nonprofit Commercials to Teach English

   In: English Teaching Forum 2021, Volume 59, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   The author presents detailed lesson models for using nonprofit commercials in both topic-based and project-based learning.

6. On Native Language Intrusions and Making Do with Words: Linguistically Homogeneous Classrooms and Native Language Use

   In: English Teaching Forum 2004, Volume 42, Issue 4 Format(s): Text

   Should L1 use be avoided in an EFL context, where classrooms tend to be linguistically homogeneous and where students have little opportunity to use English outside the classroom? This article reviews research on native language use in the classroom, how it is used (or not used), and the effects. It addresses topics such as impact on learning, teacher guilt, “covert use,” affective and processing benefits, validating the students’ own language, and solidarity with the instructor. The author concludes that a trend toward what Atkinson calls “judicious use” is reasonable.

7. 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.

8. Teaching Story without Struggle: Using Graded Readers and Their Audio Packs in the EFL Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2013, Volume 51, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   The authors developed the Bimodal Narrative Approach (BNA), which expands the extensive reading approach by adding listening activities. The authors, who used this approach with teacher trainees, outline the use of a graded reader novel and audio pack in BNA reading and listening classes. Video-based activities and evaluation are also discussed.

9. Fish All Around Us

   In: English Teaching Forum 2014, Volume 52, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This article takes a look at fish from various angles—from individuals keeping fish as a hobby, to medical offices providing aquariums to calm patients, to large public aquariums that thrill their visitors with hundreds of species of fish. A sidebar highlights U.S. locales that are popular for scuba diving and snorkeling.

10. The Trans-Cultural Comparative Literature Method: Using Grammar Translation Techniques Effectively

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

    This article explains the trans-cultural comparative literature method, which uses elements of communicative language teaching (CLT) and grammar-translation (GT) while comparing two culturally different texts. This method focuses on grammar and vocabulary, but also gives students a chance to analyze different cultures. An overview of CLT and GT is followed by guidelines for the trans-cultural comparative literature method and sample lesson plans for its use.

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