December 2008
CompleatLinks
Richard Firsten's Grammatically Speaking is an ongoing feature of Compleat Links.
- What Is Grammatically Speaking?
- Project-Based Instruction: Writing Grant Proposals
Joshua P. Miekley describes his method of using proposal writing as an authentic, service-based communicative activity with adult EFL learners in Kosovo. - Wikis: One More Great Tool
Diana Booth explains how effective use of wikis creates an authentic context for communication and encourages student participation. - Gino Learns to Play Kickball: Bridging the Cultural Gap Between Teachers and English Language Learners
Michele Harr tells the story of how one teacher's experience with other cultures helped her facilitate interaction between mainstream U.S. students and an immigrant newcomer student. - The Critical Role of Guided Oral Reading for English Language Learners
Philomena Marinaccio-Eckel and Jaclyn Donahue discuss the process and benefits of using this strategy to facilitate students' comprehension through oral retelling. - Why K–12 Teachers Need to Know About ESL Grammar Issues
Keith Folse addresses the fact that the focus of traditional teacher training will not suffice in preparing teachers for the increasing numbers of ESL students in U.S. schools. - Grammatically Speaking, October 2009
Richard Firsten explains past simple versus past perfect in the indicative mood, discusses the second conditional, looks at different ways to structure negative questions, and presents a new Brain Teaser.
Communities of Practice
From A to Z: Seven Reasons to Attend the TESOL Convention (Members Only)
Dorothy Zemach
If you haven’t decided whether you’ll attend the 2009 TESOL Convention, this list of reasons to attend may help you make that decision. It highlights some benefits you might not have thought of and some clever ideas for getting the most out of the experience.
Out of the Box
Adopting an Intercultural Approach to Teaching English as an International Language (Members Only)
Sulaiman Jenkins
English language teachers working in foreign countries could benefit from considering the author's advice on how to teach in a culturally sensitive manner that speaks to students' cultural identities.
Portal
Building Fluency With Reluctant Junior High English Language Learners (Members Only)
Dorit Sasson
An EFL teacher offers specific strategies that she used to help underperforming students overcome their academic issues related to lack of confidence that had resulted from consistent exposure to failure.
References & Resources
Creating Meaning: Advanced Reading and Writing (Members Only)
Laurie Blass, Hannah Friesen, and Kathy Block
Reviewed by Jose A. Carmona
Consider how this book’s readings on relevant modern-day topics and inclusion of various rhetorical writing tools can help your students develop enthusiasm for reading as well as the skills necessary for later academic success.
President's Message, December 2008
From the Editor, December 2008
About Essential Teacher (M)
Essential Teacher, which ceased publication in October 2009, offers columns by practitioners in various communities of practice; articles on teaching practices, reflections, and perspectives; material reviews; and association news. The archive is available online as a member resource.
The archive of Essential Teacher is a resource for language teachers and administrators in varied ESL and EFL workplaces, including pre-K-12, 2- and 4-year institutions of higher learning, and adult education. Each of these arenas has teachers with varied experience and expertise, making for a broad and diverse readership. Essential Teacher also offers guidance to mainstream teachers who work with students for whom English is an additional language.
Compleat Links is an online complement to Essential Teacher. This section offers original articles, interviews, and other content thematically linked to Essential Teacher.
Unfortunately, Essential Teacher is no longer accepting submissions. The farewell issue of ET was published in October of 2009.
However, you may be interested in submitting to TESOL Journal, which has replaced ET as a member benefit. You can find submission guidelines and details about the journal at www.tesol.org/tj, and you can submit electronically at www.editorialmanager.com/tj.
To read more about the changes to and benefits of TESOL Publications, click here.
Contents
- From A to Z: Seven Reasons to Attend the TESOL Convention
Dorothy Zemach - Circle Time: Cooperative Learning in the Content Area Classroom
Judie Haynes - Home Room: Teachers as Learning Partners
Linda New Levine - The Road Taken: Planning Lessons With Language Functions in Mind
Debbie Zacarian - Multilingual Momentum: Continuing My Journey as an EFL Professional in China
Ke Xu - Culture/Cross-Culture: Assessing Intercultural Communicative Competence
Alvino E. Fantini
- Building Fluency With Reluctant Junior High English Language Learners
Dorit Sasson - Language Issue or Learning Disability?
Caroline Linse - Using Problem-Based Scenarios in Readers Theatre
Patrick Ng Chin Leong - Web 2.0 in the Language Classroom
Martin Sankofi
- Adopting an Intercultural Approach to Teaching English as an International Language
Sulaiman Jenkins - Tuning Learners Up With "Sweet Nothings" in the Language Classroom
Okon Effiong - A Dialectical Approach to Lesson Planning
Paula Korsko - Out of the Reflective Box
Ronaldo Lima Jr.
- Creating Meaning: Advanced Reading and Writing
Laurie Blass, Hannah Friesen, and Kathy Block
Reviewed by Jose A. Carmona - Frontier House
Reviewed by Susan Kelly - From Home to School 1
Ann Gianola
Reviewed by Vanessa Caceres - Weaving It Together: Connecting Reading and Writing 3 (2nd ed.)
Milada Broukal
Taniea Engel
(see far left column)
