Hello everyone,
During the month of October on the American English at State Facebook page our theme will be Cultural Heritage and Cultural Exchange. On the American English for Educators Facebook page our theme will be Culturally Inclusive Teaching. On the Teacher’s Corner Facebook group our theme will be The Sustainable Classroom: Building a Better Future as Environmental Stewards. Feel free to download our graphics and use them on your U.S. Government associated Facebook pages. They can be found in Box and SharePoint.
This week on the American English at State Facebook Page we introduce our monthly theme with a vocabulary series on Cultural Exchange. The phrasal verbs this week are get ahead, draw up, lay off, slack off. The English for Journalism MOOC Vocabulary this week includes anonymous, censor, freedom of the press. Our #WomenWednesday features a quote from American poet and Civil Rights Activist, Maya Angelou.
On the American English for Educators Facebook page we celebrate World Teachers Day on October 5. The American English LIVE Teacher Development Series 12 will have its third session on Wednesday, October 13. The third session, “STAIR Framework for Interactive Online Activities” will take place at 8am and 1pm ET. Promotional graphics and discussion posts are included with this week’s materials.
The Teacher’s Corner Facebook theme for October is The Sustainable Classroom Building a Better Future as Environmental Stewards. This week will introduce our new expert Jennifer Williams and she will share three ways to connect students as global citizens. We also will invite group members to connect their English language classroom with another classroom in the group from a different part of the word.
Be sure to check out our new American English Materials. You can find copies of our most recent materials at the following links. The Global Guide to English Language Programming in American Spaces can be found in Box and on the American English Website. The updated Picture U.S. edition 2021, is in Box and on the AE website. The Online Program Material Guides – Teacher’s Guide to Creating Lessons with MOOCs, MOOC Camp Guide for Facilitators, and Virtual Watch Party guide is in Box and on the AE website.
The American English YouTube channel featured animated video is about Outdoor Learning.
Have you ever participated in outdoor learning? There are many benefits of outdoor learning for both students and teachers. Look at this video for some tips and to learn about outdoor learning’s positive effects!
The current issue of English Language Forum is available on the American English website. The (Vol. 59, No. 2) issue contains articles about finding heterogeneity in cultural homogeneity, using peace education as a basis for writing about a peacemaker, using an asynchronous video app to stimulate oral interaction, starting with “placemats” and progressing to writing essays and much more.
The Materials Catalogue for English language teachers and learners is available. These resources are aimed at supporting teachers of English outside of the United States. This catalog provides information on publications that are produced by the U.S. Department of State’s Office of English Language Programs and distributed through U.S. Embassies and Consulates around the world. Please see below for ordering information.
Online Professional English Network (OPEN) MOOCs: Integrating Critical Thinking Skills into the Exploration of Culture in an EFL Setting, English for Tourism Professionals, English for Media Literacy for Educators, Assessment of English Language Learners, English for Business & Entrepreneurship, English for Journalism and more are open for enrollment. More details about all MOOCs and links can be found below.
American English at State Facebook Page
Description: The American English at State Facebook Page is aimed at English language learners. Please share it as appropriate with relevant audiences in your area.
October’s Theme: Cultural Heritage and Cultural Exchange
October’s Language Point: Phrasal Verbs
Graphics that are in the Box and SharePoint for you to cross-post/use:
- Idiom: full steam ahead
- Cultural Exchange: common desserts, greetings
- Phrasal Verbs: get ahead, draw up, lay off, slack off
- Food for Thought: cultural exchange through food
- English for Journalism MOOC Vocabulary: anonymous, censor, freedom of the press
- #WomenWednesday features a quote from American poet and Civil Rights Activist, Maya Angelou
- #EducationUSA shares a vocabulary graphic for honors program
- Holidays: World Teachers’ Day
American English for Educators Facebook Page
Description: The American English for Educators Facebook Page is aimed toward engaging English language teachers around the world.
October’s Theme: Culturally Inclusive Teaching
Graphics that are in the Box and Sharepoint for you to cross-post/use:
- Culturally Inclusive Teaching: affirm students, make the classroom physically and culturally inviting, make instructional changes
- Our #MotivationMonday graphic shares a quote: “All of us in the academy and in the culture as a whole are called to renew our minds if we are to transform educational institutions – and society – so that we live, teach and work can reflect our joy in cultural diversity, our passion for justice, and our love of freedom.”
- #WordyWednesday features theme-related vocabulary; this week’s term is ethnocentrism
- Our #SolveThisScenario series this week is about addressing a student comment
- #TeachingTip: critical incidents to prompt discussions
- #ThoughtfulThursday: relevance of culture
- ICT MOOC Vocabulary: active listening, iceberg metaphor, monochronic culture, polychronic culture
- YouTube Professional Development Playlist: Cultural Competence
- We will continue sharing teaching tips from English Teaching Forum, classroom management techniques, and additional resources from americanenglish.state.gov.
- Holidays: World Teachers‘ Day
- American English LIVE Teacher Development Series 12 will have its third session on October, September 13. The third session, “STAIR Framework for Interactive Online Activities” will take place at 8am and 1pm ET. Promotional graphics and discussion posts are included with this week’s materials.
Teachers’ Corner Facebook Group
Description: The Teacher’s Corner Facebook group is primarily to support teachers who work with English Access Microscholarship Students. All Access teachers (and other educators) are welcome! Please invite educators in your area to join.
October Theme: The Sustainable Classroom: Building a Better Future as Environmental Stewards
This Week’s Content:
· The Sustainable Classroom with a focus on Our Planet Earth Classroom
· Our Expert Jennifer Williams will share three ways to connect students as global citizens.
· We’ll present an activity called: A global citizen: I am, where students are challenged to create a self-portrait that showcases their attitudes, beliefs, and traits as a global citizen.
· We’ll brainstorm how we can encourage learners to view the entire planet as a space for learning.
· We’ll invite group members to connect their English language classroom with another classroom in the group from a different part of the word.
Link to group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AccessTeachersCorner/
