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1. James

   In: American Teens Talk! Format(s): MP3, Text

   In this interview, James talks about his classes at school, his family, and his plans for college.

2. Hunter

   In: American Teens Talk! Format(s): MP3, Text

   Hunter plays the drums and ukulele, and in this interview, he talks about music and going to Puerto Rico.

3. Global Topics, Local Teaching

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

   This webinar, "Global Topics, Local Teaching," explains how to develop service learning activities in the classroom.

4. The Pinwheel: A Classroom Design for Boosting Social Learning

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

   This session, "The Pinwheel: A Classroom Design for Boosting Social Learning," introduces the “Pinwheel” classroom structure.

5. The Conversation Class

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

   This article discusses conversation classes, drawing from the author’s experience teaching Persian ESL. The author offers eight guidelines for effective teaching: cultivate a relaxed atmosphere (with six suggestions for doing this), be alert and foster alertness, be enthusiastic and engender enthusiasm, be patient, be sensitive, think, listen, and make corrections. The article finishes with a number of suggested topics and activities for promoting conversation.

6. Twenty Ideas for Using Mobile Phones in the Language Classroom

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

   Educators need to learn how best to use the increasingly popular mobile phone technology to support learning in the language classroom. This author outlines the benefits as well as potential problems and solutions of mobile phone use, giving twenty practical ideas for classroom activities, such as using a voice recorder to capture conversations outside the classroom.

7. Lesson Plan: Athletes, Actions, and Adjectives

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

   People who are very familiar with American football and those completely unfamiliar with it can benefit from the interactive, communicative activities presented in this lesson plan. Students can analyze examples from the NFL and create their own team names, team logos, and player descriptions. Ideas for teaching adjectives and body parts are also provided. In the spirit of the game, the plan features quick, lively group activities, all under 50 minutes each.

8. Reading to Speak: Integrating Oral Communication Skills

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   Although students want to practice speaking English, they do not have many opportunities to do so in the Chinese EFL system. This often results in something called 'mute English.' This article suggests a greater integration of skills through reading to speak activities. The author includes activities for reading to act, reading to debate, and reading to interview. These activities move students away from a focus on form, allowing students to be creative and build fluency.

9. Using Public Speaking Tasks in English Language Teaching

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   There are advantages to using public speaking tasks in the L2 classroom. Among them are the ability to use the four skills (e.g., when responding to audience questions, creating a presentation, or writing notes), the development of critical thinking skills, and the opportunity that public speaking provides for sharing information. The author offers guidelines and figures to illustrate the steps involved in supporting students in their research, demonstration, and review.

10. Lesson Plan: Exploring Michigan

    In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 4 Format(s): Text

    The lesson plan “Exploring Michigan” provides information on things to see and do in Michigan. It has three parts: a warm-up, the main activities that cover the four skills, and follow-up activities to further practice the content of main activities. The lesson aims to practice expressions of preference and persuasion. At the same time, the learners plan things to do on a trip to Michigan while creating and presenting an itinerary for a trip to Michigan, and then for a visit to their own country.

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