Find out the American English Treasures

Retrieved Aug. 9, 2013

American English is a resource center for teaching and learning about American English language and culture. This website provides a variety of engaging materials and resources for teachers' professional development and for students in the classrooms. Both teachers and students will find new ways to practice English. They can find classroom activities, audiobooks, MP3s, videos and pedagogical materials to assist in learning and teaching English as a second/foreign language. One can create his/her resource list to add favorite links and email or share it with others. Users can also add their suggestions and stay up-to-date by following the website calendar.

Here are some sections you can find in American English website:

AE  Resources

From books and lesson plans to music and interactive videos. Let's explore a collection of nearly 1,000 resources.

Samples:

• Shaping the Way We Teach English  
• Lessons in Life
• Sing Out Loud Traditional Songs  
• Sing Out Loud Children's Songs  
• Supertalents
• The Adventures of Tom Sawyer  
• The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories      

English Teaching Forum

Retrieved Aug. 9, 2013

It is a quarterly journal for professionals teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language, published by the Office of English Language Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. English Teaching Forum accepts submissions of previously unpublished articles from English teachers, teacher trainers, and program administrators on a wide variety of topics in second/foreign language education, including principles and methods of language teaching; activities and techniques for teaching the language skills and subskills; classroom-based studies and action research; needs analysis, curriculum and syllabus design; assessment, testing, and evaluation; teacher training and development; materials writing; and English for Specific Purposes. If you are interested in publishing in this forum, please click here to read more abut the criteria and guidelines for submission.

Some of the featured articles: 

• Creating a Storytelling Classroom for a Storytelling World  
• The Teaching Toolbox: Reconciling Theory, Practice, and Language in a Teacher Training Course 
• Instructional Enhancements to Improve Students’ Reading Abilities
• Helping Metaphors Take Root in the EFL Classroom 

Trace Effects Video Game

Retrieved Aug. 9, 2013

It is a collaborative English language video game experience for students ages 12-16. Learners can learn English and explore American culture through puzzles, games, and adventures in an interactive world.Trace Effects exposes users to American society and explores themes related to entrepreneurship, community activism, empowering women, science and innovation, environmental conservation, and conflict resolution. Trace, the main character, is a university student from the year 2045 who has accidentally traveled back in time to the present. In order to get home, he must complete a challenging mission to change the future for the better by helping six different young people accomplish great things and have a positive impact on the future. Play Trace Effects Game.

American English Webinars

The American English team host interactive webinar sessions for English teachers on how to integrate American English resources into the classroom. In the image below, you can click links to when and where you can find them:

 

Here are the links concerning the second webinar in case you cannot access them in the image above:

• When: August 21, 2013 -  8:00-9:30am EDT & 1:00-2:30pm EDT 
• Where: http://bit.ly/AEwebinarsLive

Those who missed the first webinar on July 24, 2013 can watch the recording below: