American English at State Facebook Page
Description: The American English at State Facebook Page is an interactive platform aimed toward engaging English language learners with content and opportunities for language practice that support the English language acquisition process. Please share it as appropriate with relevant audiences in your area.
June’s Theme: Well-Being and Exercise June’s Language Point: Commonly confused words
New and Continuing Content:
Faces and Places across the United States is a series of live interviews that aims to foster cultural exchange through fun, casual conversations with Americans across the country. Our next interview will go live on Tuesday, June 9th, at 11 a.m. DC time. You’ll find a promotional graphic included in next week’s edition of What’s New.
We post daily thematic content intended to support vocabulary acquisition and elicit conversation; next week’s graphics introduce our new theme and share information about positive psychology, mental health and well-being, and talking about positive emotions like great happiness.
We’ll begin a new series of exercise vocabulary. Next week’s graphics feature core strength and cardio.
We post monthly language point graphics; next week’s graphics feature the commonly confused words averse/adverse, aloud/allowed, and its/it’s.
A weekly series explains common English #IdiomsAndSayings; next week we share a graphic that explains what it means to be on a roll
#TenseTuesdays is a series that models English language structures and usage by reviewing verb tenses and eliciting conversations. Next week’s graphic reviews the functions of the perfect progressive tenses with a dialogue.
#EPluribusUnum highlights the diversity of the United States and will feature information about LGBTQ Pride month in June. Next week’s graphic shares an acrostic that explains the LGBTQ acronym.
#WomenWednesdays features outstanding women; next week’s role model is psychologist and author Angela Duckworth.
#FoodForThought features a quotation intended to elicit reflection; next week’s quote is “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.”
#EducationUSA consists of a vocabulary graphic about studying in the United States; next week’s term is “bachelor’s degree.”
American English for Educators Facebook Page
Description: The American English for Educators Facebook Page is an interactive platform aimed toward engaging English language teachers around the world with opportunities to reflect on their practice; we also aim to provide access to useful resources, creative teaching ideas, and professional development opportunities. Please share it as appropriate with educators in your area.
June’s Theme: Inclusive Classrooms, Differentiating Instruction, and Grit in Language Learning
New and Continuing Content:
#WordyWednesday features theme-related vocabulary; next week’s graphic features the term accessible.
#ScenarioSaturday posts ask educators how they might best respond to a classroom scenario; next week’s post asks how teachers would address a student who needs ongoing support to be able to read grade-level text due to a learning disability.
We feature two American English LIVE Teacher Development playlists from the American English YouTube Channel per month. These playlists feature curated collections of full-length AE Live sessions organized by topic. This month’s playlists are “Inclusive Education & Differentiating Instruction in English Language Teaching” and “Motivating and Engaging English Language Learners.” Promotional graphics are included with this week’s materials.
We will continue our series of #TeachingTip graphics with a focus on differentiation and making content accessible to all students. Next week’s graphics feature examples of how to provide multiple means of representation and share useful tech tools for differentiation and inclusivity.
We will share the first in a series of graphics that highlight key information from the article “Embracing the Growth Mindset in the Classroom” from the latest issue of English Teaching Forum.
We will continue sharing teaching tips from English Teaching Forum, classroom management techniques, and additional resources from americanenglish.state.gov.
American English Live: Teacher Development Series 8 continues on June 3, 2020! Join us for a series of Facebook Live professional development sessions for English language teachers around the world. We have included promotional graphics for Session 8.3 with this week’s materials. Additional details can be found below.
Access Teachers’ Corner Facebook Group
Description: The newly launched Access Teachers’ Corner Facebook group is a dynamic space that aims primarily to support teachers who work with English Access Microscholarship Students, i.e., adolescents aged 13-20, although most of our themes will be relevant for teachers of all ages and programs. All Access teachers (and other educators) are welcome! Please invite educators in your area to join.
June’s Topic: Teaching Culture and Language
This Week’s Content:
We will introduce this month’s thematic expert, Ruth Goode, in a short video and graphic.
We will share an overview of this month’s theme: Teaching Culture and Language and reflect upon how these concepts are related.
We will present two activities created by our Expert Ruth for facilitating lessons about culture with our learners: defining culture with our learners and features of culture.
We will explore the different features of surface culture and deep culture and examine why culture clashes occur.
We will share the rich online resource, A Peace Corps Classroom Guide to Cross-Cultural Understanding, that will help students begin to understand the perspectives of other cultures, while also offering free materials, activities and lesson plans on the topic of teaching culture and language.
We will explore how to increase learner motivation in the English language classroom with our American English Teaching Tip on using Culturally Relevant Materials.
Link to group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AccessTeachersCorner/
AE Teacher’s Corner Facebook Group
Description: The AE Teacher’s Corner is no longer active, we are inviting all members to transfer to our new Access Teachers’ Corner (see above). AE Teacher’s Corner will be archived near the end of May.
American English YouTube Channel
Our American English YouTube channel is an outstanding resource for English language teaching and learning. The channel has a total of 661 videos, divided into sections aimed at English language learners and English language teachers. We encourage you to use these resources freely and to invite teachers and learners in your area to subscribe to our channel.
Featured Section: For English Language Teachers: Deep Dives into Professional Development by Topic
This newly added section features 15 thematic playlists. Twelve playlists consist of our full-length professional development webinars organized by topic; three consist of of short video clips that highlight teaching tips by topic. See this document for a detailed index of these 12 topics and which videos can be found on each playlist. We’ve also downloaded 11 of these playlists into Box and SharePoint for you to access off line if needed.
Full Box link: https://state-low.box.com/v/YouTube-Playlists-for-Teachers
Full SharePoint link: https://bit.ly/WebinarsByTopic
Featured AE Animated Video: Commonly Confused Words – Saving Our Oceans
Description: This video features a conversation about ways to reduce ocean pollution and save our oceans. During the conversation, several sets of commonly confused words are explained. There is even a fill-in-the-blank activity at the end for viewers to test their understanding!
YouTube full link: https://youtu.be/lBGIXmlnfU0
YouTube short link: https://bit.ly/YT_CCW2
Facebook full link: https://business.facebook.com/AmericanEnglishatState/videos/1609644352537187/
Facebook short link: https://bit.ly/FBCCW2
American English Live Series 8
American English Live: Teacher Development Series 8 started on May 6, 2020! Join us on facebook.com/AmericanEnglishforEducators for a series of six Facebook Live professional development sessions for English language teachers around the world. At the end of each session, complete a short quiz to earn a digital badge! Series 8 events take place every other Wednesday from May 6th through July 15th at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Eastern Time from Washington, DC.
You can check the local start time in your region here: bit.ly/ChecktheTime
Optional Certificate Language
To learn about viewing group sessions and a chance to earn an e-certificate when you attend 4 out of 6 sessions, contact your Regional English Language Office or local U.S. Embassy: https://americanenglish.state.gov/support-near-you-regional-english-language-officer-relo
Shortened Language (280 count limit)
American English Live: Teacher Development Series 8 begins on May 6, 2020! Follow American English for Educators on Facebook to stay updated on each event in the series! facebook.com/AmericanEnglishforEducators
Note: If promoting for the Zoom platform, use this link in place of the Facebook link: https://eca-state.zoom.us/j/975451162
American English Live Series 8
Theme
Presentation Titles
Session Dates
Communicative Language Teaching: Fun and Varied Approaches for Common Grammar Topics
Bringing Grammar to Life with Experiential Learning
Presenter: Amanda Hilliard
Wednesday, June 03, 2020
8:00-9:00 am ET
1:00-2:00 pm ET
Communicative Language Teaching: Fun and Varied Approaches for Common Grammar Topics
No Prep Communicative Grammar Practice
Presenter: Stephanie Owens Upadhyay
Wednesday, June 17, 2020
8:00-9:00 am ET
1:00-2:00 pm ET
Pair Work and Group Work to Encourage Student-to-Student Interaction
Adaptable Speaking Activities for Pairs and Groups
Presenter: Lynn W. Zimmerman
Wednesday, July 01, 2020
8:00-9:00 am ET
1:00-2:00 pm ET
Pair Work and Group Work to Encourage Student-to-Student Interaction
Classmates as Language Learning Allies: Activities to Encourage Student-to-Student Interaction
Presenter: John Kotnarowski
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
8:00-9:00 am ET
1:00-2:00 pm ET
AE E-Teacher MOOCs: Teaching Grammar Communicatively, English for Journalism, EdTech, and Media Literacy
NEW! Promotional graphics, information about course start and end dates, and enrollment links can be found here in Box.
NEW COURSE – Integrating Critical Thinking Skills into the Exploration of Culture in an EFL Setting
This teacher-training MOOC presents participants with a working definition of culture and tools for analyzing, understanding, and negotiating differences between cultures. With a view toward
preparing teachers to implement culture and critical thinking lessons into their current teaching contexts, participants work through examples of related activities and lesson plan elements, as well as ways of evaluating students’ progress in these areas. This course was developed in collaboration with World Learning. This is a self-paced course.
Participants can enroll in this course until August 14, 2020. Participants may log in and complete coursework at any time during the course. However, all coursework must be completed by August 24 to pass.
Shortened Enrollment Link: https://bit.ly/CriticalThinking-CultureMOOC
Full link: https://www.canvas.net/browse/fhi-pd/courses/integrating-critical-thinking
Dates to remember
Enrollment close date: August 14, 2020 ET
Course end date: August 24, 2020 ET
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MOOC: English for Journalism
This course is designed for non-native English speakers interested in developing the skills needed for a career in modern journalism. In this course, participants will explore print and digital media while expanding vocabulary and increasing the ability to research and develop local and global news stories. Module One will provide an introduction to the history and principles of journalism. In Module Two, participants will learn how to research, pitch, and interview. Module Three will focus on the language for writing newspaper and magazine articles. Module Four will cover the basics of broadcasting the news. Module Five will focus on the growth, impact, and challenges of the digital media age.
Participants can enroll in this course until July 3, 2020. Participants may log in and complete coursework at any time during the course. However, all coursework must be completed by July 13 to pass.
Shortened Enrollment Link: https://bit.ly/EnglishforJournalismMOOC
Full link: https://www.canvas.net/browse/fhi/courses/english-for-journalism
Dates to remember
Enrollment close date: July 3, 2020 ET
Course end date: July 13, 2020 ET
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MOOC: Using Educational Technology in the English Language Classroom
Registration for our FREE self-paced MOOC: Using Educational Technology in the English Language Classroom is now open. This MOOC is developed in collaboration with Iowa State University and is designed to prepare TESOL professionals to integrate language learning tools into their English language teaching. Participants will become aware of free technological tools, learn how to use these tools for language learning and teaching, and evaluate the appropriateness of a technology tool for their specific contexts.
Participants can enroll in this course until July 17, 2020. Participants may log in and complete coursework at any time during the course. However, all coursework must be completed by July 27 to pass. We look forward to learning and sharing with you there.
Shortened Enrollment Link: https://bit.ly/EdTechMOOC
Full link: https://www.canvas.net/browse/fhi-pd/courses/using-ed-tech-in-el-classroom
Dates to remember
Enrollment close date: July 17, 2020 ET
Course end date: July 27, 2020 ET — Extended end date!
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MOOC: English for Media Literacy
Due to high demand, the English for Media Literacy Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), offered on Canvas Network, has been extended until July 27, 2020. Interested participants may now join any time before the enrollment close date on July 17. This course has 5 modules and is self-paced, so you can learn on your own schedule. In this course, you will examine how diversity representation in media influences individual identity and society, and you will develop a broader understanding of the role media plays in everyone’s lives while building the vocabulary and language skills needed to analyze what we read and watch. Enroll and join a worldwide cohort of English learners and educators around the world.
Shortened Enrollment Link: https://bit.ly/MediaLiteracyMOOC
Full link: https://www.canvas.net/browse/fhi/courses/english-for-media-literacy
Dates to remember
Enrollment close date: July 17, 2020 ET
Course end date: July 27, 2020 ET
English Teaching Forum
The current issue of English Teaching Forum (Volume 58, Number 1) is available on our American English website. Download it for ideas about teaching Medical English and other English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses, maintaining a communicative classroom, tips for getting young learners to use English during class, and much more.
Link: https://americanenglish.state.gov/resources/english-teaching-forum-2020-volume-58-number-1
Shortened Link: http://bit.ly/FORUM_58_1
22.33 – A Podcast of Exchange Stories
ECA’s podcast can serve as a teaching tool to help English language learners develop their language and critical thinking through stories. From native speakers from the United States to foreigners from around the world, students will have access to the diverse sounds of global English. Audio and transcripts for each episode can be downloaded directly from the website eca.state.gov/2233
Currently the podcast is featuring a series called “Connecting Through Isolation” where previous guests of the podcast share personal stories about what is inspiring and keeping them going in these uncertain times of COVID19.
If you’re developing creative ways to make use of the 22.33 podcast in the classroom or virtually, please reach out to share your experience with the ECA podcast team at ecacollaboratory@state.gov
