Promoting English Language
Learning in American Corner Spaces
Jerrold Frank
Regional English Language Officer, Kyiv Ukraine
American Corner Workshop
February 27, 2013 in Vienna, Austria
American Corners Goals
 To provide accurate information about U.S. history,
government, society, and values;
 To maintain an open dialogue with host-country audiences
through programs that build bridges of understanding;
 To provide access to English-language resources, computers,
and the Internet;
 To maximize the effectiveness of U.S. assistance and
exchange programs in the host country.
You and English Language
Programming???
English Programming Suggestions…
 Games
 Contests
 Book Clubs
 Drama Clubs
 Public Speaking Clubs
 Conversation Cafes
 Movie Night
 Holiday Programs
 Exam Prep Center
 Platform for Webcasts and Podcasts
 Online English Language Resource Center
Games and Game Events
Benefits of Incorporating English Language Games
in American Corners Programming.
 Games develop English-language proficiency.
 Interactive games help build social skills such as sharing,
teamwork, following directions, and friendly competition.
 Games can help build a sense of community at American
Corners.
Popular Games that Help Develop EnglishLanguage Proficiency
 Scrabble and Scrabble Me!
 Boggle and BanaGrams
 Taboo (http://www.playtaboo.com/playpage.php)
 Scattergories
 Pictionary and Quickword
 Catchphrase and Apples to Apples
 Hangman
 Charades
 Twenty Questions
 Interactive video games
Contests
 Poetry Contests
 Video Contests
 Essay Contests
 Spelling Bees www.spellingbeethegame.com
 Geography Bees
 Scrabble Contests
 Speech Contests
 Olympiads
How to Run a Book Club
Basic Ground Rules
 Choose a book that is inviting and easy-to-read.
 There is no one way to experience or interpret a book. Differing
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opinions are great!
Try to limit discussion time to the book under consideration.
Encourage respect. Dominating personalities can ruin a good book
discussion. “Let’s hear from others” is one approach. Some clubs
pass an object around the room; you can only talk when you have
the object.
Members who haven’t read the book can come too. Not everyone
can finish every book, but non-readers still have valuable insights.
Allow members to give feedback about the books they would like
to read and discuss.
Meeting Format
Allow 2-2 ½ hours per meeting
 30-45 minutes-social time (eat, drink, be merry)
 15-20 minutes-administrative matters
 60-90 minutes-book discussion
Holding the Discussion
With a leader:
 Appoint a club member-whoever selected the book or
someone else who has been designated. Some clubs have one
member who enjoys leading all the discussions
 Invite an outside facilitator (local English teacher, PCV, etc.)
Without a leader:
 Take turns going around the room, allowing each member to
talk about his or her experience reading the book.
 Handout index cards. Ask everyone to write a question or
observation, then select one or more to discuss.
Drama Club
 Planning. How many people you would like in your club, the day
and number of times you'll meet per week/month, and some of
the exercises you would like to do.
 Assign roles and key responsibilities to each member of the club
(costumes, lighting, scripts, publicity, director, actors, and so on).
 Choose a play.You can select three or four and let participants vote
on their favorite or you can ask members for ideas. Make sure you
have permission to use the play you choose.
 Prepare! Practice! Present!
Public Speaking Club
 The goal of such clubs is to provide members with opportunities to practice and gain
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confidence in public speaking. Try to foster an environment of security where members
can learn from their mistakes.
To reduce the anxiety of talking in front of the group, begin with safe topics the
members know well. Themes such as "my dream vacation" or "my favorite game" tap a
member’s experiences. Permitting them to teach a skill they know or talk about a
favorite possession are topics members can present easily.
Letting two members do a presentation together is less anxiety-provoking.
It is helpful to demonstrate models of oral presentation and provide a written outline of
its parts. Encourage the members to critique the presentation. It is best if it is not
perfect. If you can point out your own errors or deficiencies, they will realize they don't
have to be perfect.
In most instances individual oral presentations should be limited to 10 minutes. Few
novice speakers possess the skills and enthusiasm to hold their listeners' attention longer.
Once members have some experience in giving oral presentations, provide time at the
end of the talk for the rest of the class to ask questions of the presenter. This develops the
ability to think on their feet and to speak extemporaneously.
Invite a variety of speakers from the community to your meetings to offer members a
chance to hear and see a variety of styles and techniques.
Hold a speech contest!
Conversation Cafes
 Keep the groups relatively small.
 Create rules and routines.
 Start with a warm-up.
 Only English!
 Appoint a leader.
 Choose a topic
 Include role-plays.
 Have back-up ideas on hand.
 Use a suggestion box.
Movie Night
 Movie nights are an easy and effective way to explore American culture and
promote mutual understanding.You can present a movie regarding gay rights,
global warming, anything you’re passionate about. Let the film do the talking
for you.
 Just remember: The films you show must be available in home video or DVD
release in the country in which the film showing will occur.
 Always have a list of questions prepared that relate to the movie. Here are some
sample questions:
What are the main characters' struggles?
What aspects of this movie relate to the cause?
What sides of the issue does the movie focus on?
What do you think the director/screenwriter wants the audience to take away from
this movie?
 After watching this movie, how do you feel about the cause? Has your opinion
changed?
 What can we do about this issue in our specific community? What resources do we
have?
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Movies with a Cause
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Animal Welfare
Free Willy, Behind the Mask: The Story Of
The People Who Risk Everything To Save
Animals, Earthlings, Gorillas in the Mist
Disaster Response & Relief
Avalanche Alley, Dante’s Peak, Menace of
Guatemala, Shock Troops of Disaster, Forces
of Nature
Discrimination
A Raisin in the Sun, Crash, American
History X, Hotel Rwanda, Philadelphia,
Rent, Same Sex America, Boys Don’t Cry,
Tying the Knot, Prom Queen: The Marc Hall
Story, The Laramie Project, Transamerica,
Glory
Education
Stand and Deliver, Dead Poets Society,
Dangerous Minds, Good Will Hunting,
Freedom Writers, Lean on Me
Environment
The War Tapes
An Inconvenient Truth, Erin Brockovich, The
Day after Tomorrow
Health & Fitness
Super Size Me, Sicko, Thank You for
Smoking, My Life
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HIV & Sexuality
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Philadelphia, Longtime Companion,
Breaking the Surface: The Greg Louganis
Story, And the Band Played On, Juno,
Children for Sale, The Day My God Died
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International Human Rights
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Trading Women, Lilja 4-Ever, Promised
Land, Union Democracy, Bread and Roses,
Sweatshops: The Reel World of Globalization
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Poverty
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Aparajito, City of God, A Mother’s Courage:
The Mary Thomas Story, Surviving Hunger
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Violence & Bullying
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Bowling for Columbine, Searching for
Angela Shelton, American Me, Boys ‘N the
Hood, American History X, South Central
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War, Peace & Politics
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Fahrenheit 9/11, Schindler’s List, Hotel
Rwanda, Darfur Now, Glory, Blood
Diamond, 18 in '08,
Holidays
 Holidays, festivals, and celebrations throughout the year make great starting points for fun and
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effective English lesson plans about language and culture.
Designing a timely lesson plan around a special day or tradition can get people excited about
speaking, sharing, and learning English.
It is often helpful to begin with a brief history of the meaning behind the holiday and how the
traditions associated with it developed. Ask what the students already know, and then provide
additional factual information. A short handout or worksheet serves as a good introduction.
After New Year's, Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month provide a perfect
opportunity to discuss Civil Rights, while Groundhog Day, Super Bowl Sunday, Valentine's Day,
and St. Patrick's Day allow for more lighthearted conversation. Easter and the Carnival season
preceding it are celebrated in widely varying ways across Christian parts of the world, while
Mother's Day and Father's Day have different dates in different countries. Earth Day can spark
interest in environmental issues.
Although America's Independence Day falls during the summer vacation for most schools, it
can be used as an interesting starting point for discussions of American history, as can Veteran's
Day, President's Day, and Memorial Day during the school year. Patriotism and national
identity are larger issues relevant to students in most of the world's countries.
Aside from official holidays that appear on formal calendars, many other celebrations happen
throughout a typical year that can lead to fun and effective lessons. It can be enlightening to
discuss how special events, like births, birthdays, graduations, marriages, and deaths, are
marked and what special customs are associated with them.
Exam Prep Center
•TOEFL
•TSE/ TOEIC
•SAT
•GRE
•GMAT
•LSAT
•MCAT
americanenglish.state.gov
American English Portal
Learning
Resources:
USG, Commercial, Websites, etc.
Teaching
Resources:
USG, Academic, Commercial, etc
Culture
Resources:
USG, Academic,
Commercial, etc.
Video Games (e.g.
Trace Effects)
“Not Real Time” Courses
(e.g. E-teacher)
Audio/Video (NPR, PBS,
VOA Smithsonian)
Audio (e.g. VOA’s
Classroom, podcasts)
“Real Time” Courses (e.g.
Webinars)
Lesson Plans (Peace
Corps Worldwide
Schools)
Video (e.g. Crossroads
Café)
Online Journals and
publications
Recommended Web sites
(e.g. America.gov)
Relevant Links
Reference Materials
Publications
 Participate in our newest online teacher training program
 Collaborate with teachers worldwide
 Join the Ning- community of practice
 Receive e-certificates of participation
englishprograms.state.gov
 americanenglish.state.gov

shapingenglish.ning.com
Online Resources
 There are numerous online resources available for teachers of English
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and American Studies, including those that provide:
· Links to downloadable activities for learning English, materials and
lesson plans for teaching English, and resources for learning more about
American culture and history — http://americanenglish.state.gov
· Links to many ELT sites in the U.S. as well as information on the
teacher training video program Shaping the WayWe Teach English —
http://oelp.uoregon.edu
· Ready-to-use lesson plans and support materials on content-based
instruction, including environmental and civic education —
http://exchanges.state.gov/englishteaching/resforteach/ejournal
s/language-and-civil-society.html
· Current and past issues of English Language Teaching FORUM—
http://forum.state.gov
More Resources!!!!
http://www.cabrillo.edu/academics/esl/resources.html
http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/scmsAdmin/uploads/005/120/Culturally%20Responsive%20Differientiated%20Instruction.pdf
http://www.uab.edu/esl/teacher-resources
http://writing.mit.edu/wcc/resources/teachers/esl_students
http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/esl/further_resources.cfm
http://www.tei.education.txstate.edu/great/resources/ESL.html
http://sdce.edu/classes/esl/esl-resources/family-literacy-lessons
http://schools.nyc.gov/Teachers/Resources/Classroom/ELL/default.htm
http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Office%20of%20Citizenship/Citizenship%20Resource%20Center%20Site/Publications/PDFs/M-677.pdf
http://scholarspace.manoa.hawaii.edu/handle/10125/6034/browse
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/586/1/
http://www.csun.edu/~hcedu013/eslplans.html
http://writingcenter.unc.edu/faculty-resources/tips-on-teaching-esl-students/
http://www.ohio.edu/linguistics/esl/
http://www.cws.illinois.edu/workshop/writers/esl/
http://www.lasc.edu/students/bridges-to-success/documents/NewInstructorCALPRO.pdf
http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/eslhome.htm
http://www.middlebury.edu/academics/resources/ctlr/esl/eslresources
http://www.sandiego.edu/esl/teaching/teaching/references.html
http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/teaching/esl/
http://www.cde.state.co.us/cdeadult/resources.htm
http://www.uvu.edu/owl/resource/eslresources/index.html
http://www.tn.gov/education/fedprog/fpeslresources.shtml
http://web.cortland.edu/flteach/flteach-res.html
http://hunt.bsdvt.org/~lwalsleben/quest/resources/resources2.htm
http://www.chaffey.edu/esl/esl_students/
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/esl/standards_resources/index.shtml
http://academic.cuesta.edu/ahalderma/esl.htm
http://academics.smcvt.edu/cbauer-ramazani/Links/esl_listening.htm
http://www-bcf.usc.edu/~cmmr/BEResources.html
http://departments.weber.edu/teachall/eslcases/esl.htm
http://www.suu.edu/ed/resource/TenneseeESLResourceCenterStrategiesforESLTeachers[1].pdf
http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/files/uploads/3/EducatingELLsBuildingTeacherCapacityVol1.pdf
http://www.nj.gov/education/bilingual/resources/websites/teachers.htm