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1. New Years Eve

   In: Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.A. Format(s): Text

   In the United States, people begin celebrating the New Year on December 31, New Years Eve.

2. Lesson Observation: The Key to Teacher Development

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   The author describes teacher training and teacher development as separate concepts through descriptions of how observation occurs in Cameroon. While training is a planned event that gives novices ready-made answers, development is an ongoing, organic process that values teacher innovation and reflection. Observers interested in development may use of a lesson observation cycle that includes pre-observation and post-observation meetings. The role of inspectors and peers in observation is also discussed.

3. Using L1 in the L2 Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   There may be more to the use of L1 in the L2 classroom than previously thought. Recent findings show that L1 usage values the native culture and language of the students, allowing them to feel comfortable taking risks in English. The author distributed a questionnaire on Spanish usage to English language students and professors at a Puerto Rican university. Results showed that both students and teachers felt there were clear instances where Spanish would help understanding. The author also shares his own personal experiences as a Spanish-speaking English teacher.

4. Martin Luther King Day

   In: Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.A. Format(s): Text

   Martin Luther King Day honors the life and legacy of one of the visionary leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and recipient of the 1964 Nobel Prize for Peace.

5. President's Day

   In: Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.A. Format(s): Text

   This federal holiday is formally called "Washington's Birthday" and is celebrated on the third Monday in February.

6. Memorial Day

   In: Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.A. Format(s): Text

   Memorial Day is a holiday to honor the men and womn who have died in wars or in the service of their country.

7. Independence Day

   In: Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.A. Format(s): Text

   Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4 because on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, officially breaking bonds with England and forming a new independent nation, the United States of America.

8. Observation Web: A Reflection Technique for Observation

   In: English Teaching Forum 2003, Volume 41, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   The author shows how an observation web can be used to track the nature of activities during a lesson so they can be reflected on later. The observer uses a circular chart to mark if action in the classroom is linguistic, pragmatic, informative, teacher-centered, student-centered, individual, and/or interactive. This marking is done every five minutes. The author provides examples of traditionalist, innovative, and balanced teacher observations webs from real observations of Russian teachers. The best lessons came from teachers with more balanced webs.

9. Labor Day

   In: Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.A. Format(s): Text

   Labor Day was established as a holiday for workers, both as a tribute to their contributions to the nation, and as a means of bringing more public awareness to their struggles.

10. Columbus Day

    In: Celebrate! Holidays in the U.S.A. Format(s): Text

    Columbus Day is a legal federal holiday that commemorates the first voyage of Christopher Columbus, who sailed west from Spain in 1492 and reached the islands of present day Bahamas.

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