Tunisian English Teaching Forum

The 6th issue of Tunisian ELT Forum is online!

2012-02-05T15:13:00.001+01:00

We are proud to announce that the sixth issue of The Tunisian English Language Teaching Forum is online.

In this issue, you can read an article about teaching critical reading in the EFL classroom by our veteran colleague and regular contributor to the magazine, Hechmi Hamdi. We had the chance and we are eager to share the interview with the talented and resourceful teacher, teacher trainer, song and English material writer Jason R. Levine, aka FluencyMC. Noamen Amara shares yet another great article in which he thinks about and shares his views concerning lowering the age of English education. Our active and creative colleague, Anissa Ben Abdallah Ayari, shares great tips and ideas about enriching and getting the most out of the third hour with our students in preparatory schools. We also talk about online resources for teachers with a focus on online security and blogging.

We thank all of our contributors who didn't spare effort and time to create this issue of the magazine!

Enjoy and share!

Open publication - Free publishing - More classroom

Sidi Bouzid celebrating the first International Festival of Freedom and Dignity

2011-12-16T23:27:00.000+01:00

Sidi Bouzid, the hometown of Mohamed Bouazizi and the place that witnessed the first outburst of the Tunisian Revolution on the 17^th of December, 2010, will host the first International Festival of Freedom and Dignity for four days (16^th to 19^th of December). The festival is both a grateful celebration of the past as it is a tribute to the Revolution’s martyrs and an optimistic look at the future because the festival is also a unique opportunity to draw the world’s attention to the buried splendor of this part of Tunisia and to its quite often overlooked economic potential. The International Festival of Freedom and Dignity offers a rich and varied program including music, art galleries, outdoor movie screenings, workshops, seminars, fireworks, and much more! The highlight of the festival is the attending of outstanding international guests from Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Libya, Britain, Yemen, Syria and other countries. More on this event soon.

The Sixth Issue of The Tunisian ELT Forum Magazine: Call for articles

2011-12-16T21:39:00.000+01:00

Soon, we will be publishing the sixth issue of The Tunisian ELT Forum. In fact, we plan to have it ready by mid-January. If you have any ideas, tips or lessons (related to EFL in general or ITC in particular) to share, we will be honored to have them published in the next issue. It would be ideal if you could send your submissions before or during the first week of January. If you are interested, please use the "contact us" button. Have great hildays!

Rhyme-on-time! : The First Classroom Activity Book of ColloTunes for English Learning

2011-11-16T21:57:00.001+01:00

Jason R. Levine's long-awaited book, Rhyme-On-Time!, will be available very soon!
Rhyme-On-Time is the first classroom activity book of ColloTunes for English learning. The book includes songs for beginner to intermediate level learners, 14 full-length ColloTunes + instrumental versions, re-printable/photocopiable lyrics, activity handouts, teacher notes, lesson plans and much more!
The book will be available on November the 25th.
To order the book, you can check http://www.colloandspark.com , Jason's page on Facebook: Fluency MC or email Jason at collolearn(at)gmail(dot)com.

*Jason R. Levine (aka Fluency MC) is an amazingly resourceful and creative teacher whose rap songs geared towards learners of English have been met with great success on the internet. Just a quick look at the number of hits/likes on his videos on YouTube (check Jason's stickstuckstuck ) or the number of visits and comments on his page on Facebook reveals to what extent his creativity has been inspiring and admired by teachers and learners from all over the world.

Activa Idioma: Prospective job offer for English as a Foreign Language teachers in Tunisia

2011-11-16T21:39:00.001+01:00

activa idioma is exploring the possibilities of hiring up the services of English teachers from Tunisia with a degree in English studies and / or Cambridge CELTA –presently working or not- for lesson planning or / and online teaching. For more details on the job offer, we will be happy to forward the email sent to the forum by activa idioma to those who are interested. Contact Tarak here: tarakbrahmi(at)gmail(dot)com or info(at)tarakbrahmi(dot)com

Launching the ELTons 2012

2011-11-16T20:40:00.001+01:00

The ELTons, sponsored by Cambridge ESOL, are the only international awards that recognise and celebrate innovation in the field of English language teaching (ELT).
Check http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-eltons for more details about this year's awards, categories and deadlines. Good luck!

Happy World Teachers' Day!

2011-10-05T23:50:00.000+01:00

World Teachers' Day is held annually on October the 5th. This year, the British Council Tunisia is organising the Teaching English Webquest Competition. You can check the British Council website for more details.
Good luck!

Go Ahead Teacher! Students are Eager!

2011-10-02T19:54:00.000+01:00

By Anissa Ben Abdallah Ayari*

I won’t believe any teacher who would say, “I’m still on holiday”. School is ahead and our holidays are already over. Obviously we’re still home but mentally, we’re there, in class.
Worried! Anxious! Yes, we might be so. Excited! Impatient! True, we should be so. Busy! “Swamped”! Definitely, we have to be so. It’s all about the very “First Hour” of the school year “The beginning is the most important part of the work.” Teachers, indeed, should give it attention, consideration, but above all, a careful preparation.
Because it has a vital and decisive role in the long run, teachers have to get ready with an attractive and a gripping first hour session. In order to keep your students “in” from the very start, keep in mind dear colleagues that you SHOULD:

Catch their attention
Surprise them
Involve them all whether they are high-achievers or not.
Show interest in what they are saying no matter how trivial it may be.
Give them the opportunity to reach you:

“The Authority of those who teach is always an obstacle in front of those who want to learn”
Cicero

So,

Be kind to them.
Ask them but let them ask you
Let them answer your questions but answer theirs in return
Mingle with them
Smile
Make them feel that you’ll team up together to achieve success.

By experience, I’ve come to realize that by the end of such a session, students will step out the classroom feeling confident, safe, secure and READY to start a new year with all its “ups and downs”.
Unfortunately, this is not enough. Is it? Students need to “wake up” after a long sleepy holiday. They need to think, to refresh their memories, to speak because they’ve got a lot to talk about, to move, to discover their new “corner” for that new year, to interact to know each other.
In fact, practically speaking, teachers have to cater for all these needs and provide learners with the suitable activities selected and set beforehand. But the questions here are: How should I select the activities? What should be the basis on which I’ll prepare my First lesson of the year?
Teachers, indeed, have to consider 3 points to come out with” a perfect activity” to assure “a perfect start”:

The School type (Primary, Prep or Sec. School...) which will determine the level and the age group your students belong to.
The School place. It’ll help you best choose the topics that might interest the local students. A topic of interest in an area might be a kind of never-heard-of thing in another one.
The “Ice” that may stand between the students themselves or the students and their teachers. Regardless of the fact that you’re an “old” teacher or not, you’re always a “new’ one on the first day to school. Whether they were in the same class the previous year or not, students are always “new comers” on that very day.

Actually Ice Breaker Activities are what teachers need to answer the above questions and to be well-equipped for the first hour of a new school year.

What is an Ice Breaker?: (n-count): It is something that someone says or does in order to make it easier for people have never met to talk together.

Why use them in class as first hour activities? Educators agree and emphasize the fact that Ice Breakers are worth using as effective and efficient starts for a new challenging school year for their multiple and various benefits.

I have done the tour of a multiple number of websites where I have found a multitude and a huge variety of Ice Breakers. Here is a compilation of the most used ones in EFL classes.

1-GET-TO-KNOW Each Other Interview:

It is a very good activity mainly for shy students who will find themselves in front of interviewers asking them very simple questions about: name, age…. Students will move around and interview each other to gather information that they’ll display later for the rest of the classmates. To make it easier for the students, the teacher may distribute The Interview worksheets. Here are some links that you can visit to download them for free:
www.superteacherworksheets.com/ www.busyteacher.com

2-Two Truths and A Lie:

Students are asked to write 2 truths and 1 lie about themselves. After introducing the 3 facts to the rest of the classmates and the teacher? It’s then up to them to identify the “Lie” . Funny, motivating and engaging all the students and even the teacher. Give it a try, you won’t regret it.

3-Dates and Events activity:

On a piece of paper students are asked to write 5 numbers. These should correspond to events in the learner/teacher life. It may be the number of brothers and sisters….. The teacher then asked the students to move around and ask each other questions (Yes/NO or WH questions) in order to find out the corresponding answers for the given dates or numbers. The teacher should start and model the activity so that it won’t be difficult for them to deal with it. They’ll be glad to share some personal things with classmates and teacher. It’s one of the activities that would bring the teacher closer to the students.

4-Find Someone Who:

It’s a game-like activity. Teachers give their students sheets of paper containing lists of various accomplishments, skills, success and any other kind of information. Then, they are asked to travel around the class looking for people who may fulfill the spots in their sheets. Very practical and effective to let students give interesting fact about one other.

5-A Two- Minute Mixer:

It is a good activity to enhance the students’ speaking skills. Students are allowed to mingle in the class and have a 2-minute chat with one another. No need to prepare things for this activity. Just let them do it spontaneously and it’ll work.

6-If you had A Magic Wand:

Let your students go beyond the class for this first session. What would they do if they had a magic wand? It is an activity to open their minds, tell you and the others about their dreams, energizes the whole group and triggers the learners’ curiosity to know more about their teacher or their classmates.

7-Three Words:

I’ve already talked above about surprising the students on that very first session. This is a perfect activity to impress your learners. Just ask them to write down 3 words that best describe them. Words may not come easily. So let them speak, ask each other, listen to each other. They’ll also ask you. You’ll be there, won’t you? Students will never forget these “magic “3 words and they’ll never forget each other’s 3 words till the end of the year.

Conclusion:

I hope what I have collected will be of great help to all. I have also learnt a lot from it. To finish, I would like to add just one thing. Don’t forget to be early on that day. Actually you have to talk about discipline. It is very important to set some rules from the start. Finally, thank them for their attention and attendance. Getting through a lot of events in the beginning of a school year, students need to feel appreciated and welcomed back.
I wish a successful school year to all students, teachers, inspectors and everyone who is involved in the teaching field. Special thanks and wishes for my inspector and teacher Mr. Rachid Najar for his encouragement, help and support.

Useful links:

*Anissa Ben Abdallah Ayari is a very active EFL teacher in Sidi Rzig Mongi Slim (Prep School). She's been teaching for 12 years now. When not teaching, Anissa is sharing links and tips with other EFL teachers from all over the world and sending posts to The Tunisian English Teaching Forum's group on Facebook and other teaching groups online. She is particularly interested in sharing ideas on how to genuinely and creatively motivate students.

The fifth issue of The Tunisian English Language Teaching Forum

2011-04-27T19:57:00.000+01:00

In this issue, you can "read two articles on product and process writing: one
by an ELT Inspector Belgacem HAMDI and the other is by a Senior EFL
Teacher Hachmi HAMDI.

Steve PEHA, president of TTMS, focuses on one
of the mechanical aspects of writing: punctuation and suggests a new
approach how to teach it.

The contribution of Noaman AMARA, a Tunisian teacher in the Gulf, is an
article on teaching grammar and vocabulary through songs and chants.

Added to all this wealth of ideas, Tarek BRAHMI’s special guest in this
issue is Larry FERLAZZO, who will necessarily make an addition to the
pedagogical valise of any reflective teacher. Tarek has, also, considered
the teaching of reading and shares ideas on the technique of “Jigsaw
reading” with the readers of this issue.

Mme. Faten ROMDHANI, EFL Teacher in the area of Nabeul and a friend of
the forum and the magazine writes an elegant article about the importance
of reading in an era when the reign is for the Internet rather than the paper
book."

This issue can be read and downloaded here .

Volunteer translating fom English to Arabic

2011-04-09T14:21:00.000+01:00

Teachers Without Borders is looking for English-to-Arabic translators for its Peace Education Program. Translators should be fluent in Arabic and English, and be willing to commit to 5-10 hours per week of volunteer translating work. Please send a resume or CV and cover letter to Stephanie Knox Cubbon, Peace Education Program Coordinator: stephanie@twb.org

A New Call For Articles

2011-03-22T00:16:00.000+01:00

The fifth issue of the magazine , which was due to be online in January, was postponed as the country was (and it is still) going through a historical Revolution.
Some colleagues asked about the magazine and said they are looking forward to seeing it online. In fact, we have received some invaluable articles but we are still waiting for more! So, any contributions will be appreciated.
We would also like to pay a tribute to those who wrote and are still writing a new page in the history of our country. So, we are thinking about adding a few pages to talk about the Tunisian Revolution. So, if you are interested, let your pen's ink run wild!

The Fifth issue of the magazine: call for articles

2010-12-17T02:50:00.000+01:00

We will welcome a new year very soon and with it we will celebrate a second year of fruitful and delightful collaboration through The Tunisian ELT Forum magazine.
The fifth issue of the magazine ( January 2011) will focus on Teaching Writing and ICT in the ELT Classroom. Articles are now being accepted. So, if you have some ideas about how writing should be administered or if you want to share tips related to ICT, do not hesitate to give voice to them in writing.

To send your article(s), please use the "Contact us" button.

An Educational CD by Karima Boussaid

2010-12-06T01:56:00.000+01:00

Karima Boussaid, a teacher of English form Tunisia, has recently developed an outstanding educational CD for 7th, 8th and 9th year students. The CD comprises a collection of activities including stories, songs, vocabulary games, a funny dictionary, flashcards, pronunciation and grammar activities, etc.. The content is highly motivating and meticulously varied. The CD, with its abundance of tasks, is an interesting reference for teachers of English teaching 7th year students in the language labs.
Copies of the CD, "Learning English Can Be Fun!", will be available soon in the CREFOC, Sidi Bouzid.
We congratulate Karima and thank her for sharing this CD.

Calling all teachers, the Guardian Weekly

2010-11-11T22:17:00.000+01:00

By Max de Lotbinière (*)

Teaching English is a truly global profession, so what do we have in common and what can we share? The Guardian Weekly's Learning English has created Class Report a space where teachers can share insight into their challenges and achievements.

Class Report seeks to show the diversity and dynamism of the global English language teaching profession. If you are a full-time teacher, you are established in your current teaching role and you have an inspiring story to tell, we would like to hear from you. Perhaps you have overcome special challenges in your work or you teach in an unusual context. If so, we want you to share some of the insights you have gained - remember, your story will inform others and help them in their professional development.

The Class Report feature is presented as a short, "question-and-answer" style article, so we would ask you to answer, briefly, the following questions and to provide brief biographical information. Your name and location will be published with the article.
Please copy the questions and your answers into an email and send it to max.delotbiniere@guardian.co.uk

We welcome all responses but the decision to publish responses as Class Report features rests with the editor. All information will be received in confidence and agreement to publish will be sought from the contributor before publication.

Class Report questions
Please keep your answers brief (no more than 75 words per questions). Answers should relate to your current teaching position only.
1 What keeps you motivated?
2 What has been your best teaching moment and why (in your current teaching situation)?
3 What has been your worst teaching moment and why (in your current teaching situation)?
4 What have you learned from your students?
5 What is the biggest challenge you face (in your current teaching situation)?
6 What's next (career development, ambitions, hopes etc)?
7 Top tip for other teachers (your best single piece of advice)?

Biographical information
name:
age:
nationality:
brief summary of education/teaching career to date:
brief description of current teaching position (location, type of education establishment etc):

*Max de Lotbinière edits a section on English language teaching that appears in the Guardian Weekly newspaper, the international edition of the UK's Guardian, and online. The Guardian Weekly runs a regular column, Class Report, which aims to share the voices of teachers working in different contexts and to provide some insights into their experiences. Previous examples of Class Report columns can be read here and further instructions on how to submit a column are here.

New in this forum: the new books section

2010-10-17T14:37:00.000+01:00

We have just added a new section to our forum to inform our readers about new publications in the field of ELT in Tunisia. We encourage the forum's members to send us an email including a snapshot of their book cover pages and a few words about it and we will spread the word by posting the information here.

We will inaugurate this section by talking about two books which have been published recently:

English Is The Key for 9th year Basic Education:
By Neji NECIBI
This is a workbook for 9th Year Basic Education pupils with more than 90 activities covering vocabulary, language and writing. The book helps students to feel comfortable with reading comprehension, to boost their writing skills, and to review their vocabulary and grammar.
The book has more than 110 pages with an answers section.
The book's author may be contacted via email here: nejincibi@gmail.com

You may have a look at some pages of the book here.

Mother Sissi And The Cozy Cat:
By Mohamed Salah ABIDI & Tarak BRAHMI
This is a short story for readers aged 10 to 15 years old (8th Year Basic Education, 9th Year Basic education, 1st year Secondary Education, and 2nd Year Secondary Education). The book is part of a new series of short books ( Smart Reader Book Series) in English targeting beginner, intermediate and upper-intermediate pupils.
The idea behind this series stems from the authors' conviction that reading stories should be part and parcel of the curriculum if we want our pupils to shine in the English language. This goes hand in hand with the general trend and conviction in Tunisia that the English language should have a prominent role in our students' education.
Teachers may use the books to foster the learners' reading skills and to enhance their appreciation of the English language both inside and outside the classroom.
The book authors may be contacted via email here: medsaha@gmail.com and tarakbrahmi@gmail.com

You may have a look at some pages of the book here.

Comments:

"The story is deeply seated in our cultural make- up.It is part and parcel of our collective memory .It has been beautifully revisited because it carries along noble values.
Mother Sissi and The Cozy cat is everybody’s book for Mother Sissi is everybody’s story.
The title of the story pleases the ears of both old and young because it calls to mind ,for many, a special far off scent. The language is simple and the values triggered are universal .The content is framed in an easy to understand way
The authors’ use of Mother Sissi ‘s tale is brilliantly thoughtful and considerate.
In a word , Mother Sissi and her Cozy Cat is worth reading because it teaches simple human values."
Hamdi Hechmi
EFL teacher/Ibn Rochd School ,Maknassy

"I personally appreciated Mother Sissy and the Cozy Cat for a number of reasons. First, the topic is very interesting (hard-working people are rewarded and wrong doers are punished). Second, many positive values have been highlighted (such as solidarity, maintaining family ties, importance of serious work, etc.). Third, the style of narration (particularly the language) has been very successful."

Mohamed Amri
English Language Inspector, Kasserine

“Mother Sissi and the Cozy Cat” is what we should recommend to our young sons and daughters. For beyond being a pleasure to read with three short songs throughout, the short story includes a three-page glossary at the end to round out information and an exercise section to test comprehension. It is a short story that our children will not be able to put down before coming to the last full stop."
Read the complete review here

Abdelhamid RHAIEM is currently teaching in the English department at l’Institut Supérieur des Langues de Gabes, University of Gabes. He is also a PhD student at the University of Manouba. His field of interest mainly includes Modern British Novel and feminist writings.

A Précis of Current English Grammar: grammar in context for upper-intermediate & advanced learners
By Neji CHAKROUN

This book is intended to learners of English who are in need to brush-up their English grammar knowledge, to review outside of class or to acquire new grammatical devices. It also presents information which can be consulted for reference. The book is also recommended for first & second year university students, CAPES candidates, candidates sitting for the TOEFL and TOIC exams.
The book's author can be contacted via email here: nejilam@yahoo.fr

The difficulties of language processing facing intermediate Tunisian learners of English in a CLT classroom

2010-10-17T12:16:00.000+01:00

Article by Adnen Mansouri

Adnen Mansouri graduated from the College of Letters and Human Sciences of Sfax, Tunisia (FLSHS). He is undertaking an MA research on "The difficulties of language processing facing intermediate Tunisian learners of English in a CLT classroom".
Adnen Mansouri believes that his research "could be a good way to bring attention to a specific issue in the domain of TEFL. " He thinks that "intermediate Tunisian learners of English have problems with their oral proficiency and [...] that there is interference between L1 and TL (English) and there is appearance of an interlanguage."
Mr. Mansouri is sharing the introduction to his MA research on this forum. We thank him for allowing our blog members and readers to have a look at this interesting introduction and we will be glad to see your comments and reactions.

The fourth issue of the The Tunisian English Teaching Forum

2010-10-05T23:55:00.000+01:00

We are pleased to inform you that the fourth issue of the The Tunisian English Teaching Forum is out.
In this issue you can read:

Teaching, Learning, and Fairness by Steve PEHA
Meeting the needs of all learners in a diverse society through reading.

Classroom Management for Young Learners by Noamen AMARA
How to create a positive learning environment through good classroom management.

Interview
With our special guest for this issue, Patricia Donaghy.

Tutorial by Tarak BRAHMI
Creating interactive activities with JClic author.

Ten great online resources for teachers
Review of 10 websites that provide videos, photos and audio files for free.

The lighter side
Riddles, puns,and jokes.

Open publication - Free publishing - More technology

To download your copy of the magazine, use the "download" button on issuu. You can also email us and we will send you your own copy.
You can send your feedback and comments here or on issuu.

The website of the month: New Brunswick

2010-09-09T12:56:00.000+01:00

By Tarak Brahmi

This website is a complete toolkit for the teacher who wants to be a tech-savvy. What is more, it has what we really need: video tutorials that show you exactly where to start and how to finish.
The video tutorials clearly and subtly show you how to unzip or compress files, move files to and from your laptop, research the internet, manipulate and edit photos, work with sound, use the print screen, use PowerPoint, Photostory, MS Paint., etc.. It also has a handy list of keyboard shortcuts to help you save precious time. If you have ever thought about how to create a website from scratch, this site has excellent video tutorials to guide you through this process.
Check some of the site's content here:

Photostory 3	PowerPoint	Working with sound	Web Design

Everything is minutely organised and there are activities and quizzes with every tutorial.

Fun Ways for Foreign Students to Learn English

2010-09-06T16:12:00.000+01:00

By Amira Anuar (*)

With the right games and activities, learning can turn into a lot of unexpected fun! A successful way of teaching English to foreign students is to teach them through games, allowing them to learn and reinforce lessons of grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. There are many different kinds, ranging from simple to complicated, active to quiet, individual-based and group-based. Here are some of the most engaging games and activities for students of various ages and levels.

• AgameAday: Agameaday.com has thousands of games and puzzles for use both online and in print, with two different learning levels. They entertain and encourage learning, problem solving, and creative thinking.
• Easy Vocabulary Quizzes with Pictures: Located here are interactive vocabulary quizzes that ask learners to match the pictures with the corresponding noun, verb, or adjective.
• English4Kids: Here are a number of fun and interactive games that can be used in the classroom. There are printable board and card games, as well as interactive games similar to Wheel of Fortune, Billionaire, Show Down, and Quiz shows.
• English Educational Games for Kids: Here you’ll find two fun games for children. There are two versions of hangman, one with colors and one with fruits and vegetables. There are two versions of the game called Memory Squares that asks you to match a word with each corresponding picture.
• English Ladder: Take a few minutes to register (for free) and then take English quizzes that can be for ESL learners of all levels. The website will remember your score and allow users to see their progress as they take harder quizzes.
• ESL Kids World: As the site states, these interactive games and quizzes will help kids do a lot of self-education. With over 40 games, there’s no end to the fun!
• ESL Online Learning Games: For the beginner, located here are number of online games that teach the basics, such as the alphabet, learning simple vocabulary, and matching words to their appropriate picture.
• Flash Quizzes: Here you can take interactive online quizzes nonstop, on topics including grammar, vocabulary, culture, and even random trivia.
• I'm Reading!: This website has many colorful and interesting stories that students can read on the screen. Stories include myths, comics, folk tales, and Chinese fables. For those who cannot read all the words, you can click on individual words in the stories and a voice will read them out to you.
• Interactive ESL Crossword Puzzles: These fun and interactive online crosswords are sure to reinforce your vocabulary skills. There are three different levels, as well as links to even more fun grammar games and interactive exercises.
• iT's for Teachers: On this page are classroom activities from the quarterly magazine, iT’s for Teachers, a resource for teachers and learners of the English language. Here you can find a variety of fun games on topics ranging from Robin Hood to Toy Story 3.
• LearnEnglish Kids: This colorful and attractive website is geared towards kids and teaching them to learn English. Young ESL students can take advantage of these games too!
• Printable ESL Crossword Puzzle Worksheets: Here are a large amount of fun and attractive crosswords, for your printing pleasure!
• Skillswise: On this website are a number of word games that teach grammar rules, spelling, reading, and writing. For example, a fun reading game is called “Can you find out who killed Angela Spelling?” which tests reading speed and accuracy.
• SpellBinder: This cool game lets kids practice their spelling and writing skills by first selecting a topic to write on, selecting the words to practice writing with, attempt to spell them, and then use them in a story.
• TeachingEnglish - Activities: Here you will find a wide variety of classroom activities in many areas. The activities are detailed, simple to understand, and easily duplicated. There are sections on reading, vocabulary, writing, revision, and many others.

(*) Amira Anuar is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on online schools for Guide to Online Schools.

Best wishes for the new school year!

2010-09-06T15:51:00.000+01:00

With the holidays in the rear-view mirror, teachers are now busy getting ready for a new and exciting school year. On the occasion of the beginning of the school year 2010-2011, we would like to express our best wishes for teachers in Tunisia and all over the world.

Stream, a magazine by the students

2010-06-30T00:51:00.001+01:00

Our colleagues- Sahbi Bouazizi, Sihem Amri, Fatma Baraketi, Basma Jellali, and Fadhel Tamallah-sent this elegant magazine by their students in 2 March Secondary School, Sidi Bouzid. The magazine, “Stream”, displays a nice collection of short stories, dialogues, puzzles and proverbs written by the students themselves.

The magazine is “ a crude attempt [that] invites [the readers] to have a look at various activities [...] that stem from [the] students’ eagerness to be high achievers”.

We thank our colleagues for the great effort invested in this lovely magazine and for sharing their work on this forum. Keep up the great work!

To see or download the magazine, click on the thumbnail below:

Open publication - Free publishing - More tunisia

A play about environmental issues by the pupils in Abou Baker El Gammoudi prep school

2010-06-04T00:48:00.000+01:00

"Learning is something students do, NOT something done to students."
Alfie Kohn

Falling back to the stance of teaching a language as if it is a set of lexical items to be learnt by heart or a collection of grammatical rules to be written in red may be easy but it is far from the real assignment and aspirations of a creative teacher; a teacher who will leave a lasting imprint and be remembered a long time past that year he spent with her/his students.
Latifa AZIZA, Nozha BAYAWI and Amal BOUAZIA,our colleagues from ABou Baker El Gammoudi prep. school, Sidi Bouzid, have chosen the harder way by thinking "outside the box" and taking their teaching skills to the next level. They got together in the preparation of a play which was performed by their students: A great job by the teachers and a wonderful performance by the students.

play by students in BGPS Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia from Tunisian ELT Forum on Vimeo.

Review Handouts by Mr. Dhahri

2010-05-29T22:00:00.000+01:00

Maamar Dhahri, a teacher of English in Souk Jedid, sent two interesting handouts: The first one is a summary of grammar rules for 4th Year students. The second handout was prepared by Miss Salwa Mhamdi. It is a comprehensive recapitulation of the vocabulary covered in "Skills for Life". Both documents are meticulously conceived and organized into sections.
We thank our colleagues for sharing these two valuable resources.

Grammar rules

Vocabulary list

New Tests by Mr. Neji Ncibi

2010-05-25T15:17:00.000+01:00

A smiling face, an eloquent and witty sense of humour, a caring soul and a generous colleague with a pile of ELT magazines or great resources for teaching English under his arm: This is how most of the teachers of English in the area of Sidi Bouzid know Mr. Neji N'cibi. He has always been a great inspiration for all of us either as a colleague or as a "conseiller pédagogique". Mr. Neji sent these tests two months ago but we were busy preparing for the magazine. We are really sorry for the delay. Thanks again for sharing!

Test 1 First Year Secondary Education

Test 2 First Year Secondary Education

(*Click on the thumbnails above to download or see the tests in full-preview mode.)

Side Note:

Mr. N'cibi has recently published his new book "English Is the Key" for 9th year Basic Education.

Congratulations!

Classroom Management for Young Learners by Noamen Amara

2010-05-25T14:38:00.000+01:00

This is a PowerPoint Presentation by our friend and colleague Noamen Amara*. In this presentation, Noamen stresses the importance of classroom management and draws our attention to some empowering and useful techniques for monitoring students' behaviour. These include seating arrangement techniques, praise and encouragement,setting time limits, role play, pair and group work, etc..
Noaman also sent an inspiring article that we will publish in the next issue of the Tunisian ELT Forum magazine.

*Noaman Amara is a Tunisian teacher working in Bahrain.

Blog: http://teachingenglish-alexenoamen.blogspot.com

Email: noamenamara@yahoo.co.uk

Side Note:

We congratulate Noamen for his wedding. Best wishes of happiness and joy!

The third issue of The Tunisian ELT Forum

2010-05-18T18:01:00.000+01:00

We are pleased to inform our readers and the subscribers to this blog that the third issue of the The Tunisian English Teaching Forum is out.

In this issue you can read:

Testing Speaking by Adel GHABRI
Techniques to promote speaking and to enhance the oral test in the EFL classroom.

As it is Written, So it Shall be Read and Said! by Steve PEHA:

Using reading to foster kids’ acquisition of the pronunciation and grammar of English.

Teaching Speaking by Farida BEN ABDALLAH

Factors teachers need to take into account while teaching speaking.

Using Videos in the Classroom by Faten ROMDHANI:

Videos in the EFL classroom to motivate learners and deliver high-quality lessons.

Will lLanguage Labs Promote English Learning? by Zohra AMMOURI:

Thinking about the CALL labs and the ICT experience in Tunisia.

Teaching the Target Language or the Language Culture? by Fathi BOUGUERRA

Getting students to know not only another language but also the target culture.

Boundaries by Abdelhamid R'HAIEM:
A post-conference report about the third conference organised by the Department of English in ISL, Gabes

David KAPULER was our guest this month and Tarak BRAHMI had an elightening and rich conversation with David.

Also in this issue:

Bringing the news into the classroom and the lighter side..

Open publication - Free publishing - More technology

To download your copy of the magazine, use the "download" button on issuu. You can also email us and we will send you your own copy.
You can send your feedback and comments here or on issuu.

Comments on the third issue:

Steve Peha :
"Wow, I love the way the magazine looks. It's the coolest publication I get printed in. Thanks again for letting me contribute. [..]Congratulations on another fine issue."

David Kapuler :
"...Thanks so much for including me in such a beautifully created magazine. I was blown away to see what you have done. [...]Great job!!"

Faten Romdhani:
"You are Great dear colleagues ! May you always be successful and enriching the scene of publication with interesting and useful articles to guide and enlighten us in the World of Teaching ! Thanks a million for all your efforts ! "

Online resources for 4th Year Students

2010-04-16T23:57:00.000+01:00

By Tarak Brahmi
Looking for materials for your 4th Year students? You have come to the right place!
Here is a great place to start: MacMillan is offering a few interesting worksheets that happen to meet the needs of our 4th Year students who are now getting ready for the baccalaureate exams.
Check the following pages and have a look at the archives. The topics that are suggested include:
Education
Holidays
Climate change
Cities
Food
Film reviews
And more pertinent topics...
The site also offers the answers to the questions and nice glossaries of lexical terms.

Article submissions for the May issue

2010-03-03T19:58:00.000+01:00

We have started thinking about and preparing for the third issue of the Tunisian ELT Forum, which will be published in May 2010. If you are willing to contribute an article to the magazine and if you are particularly interested in “teaching and assessing speaking in the English classroom”, magazine articles are now being accepted.
Articles can focus on any of the following topics:

Techniques to foster speaking skills in TEFL
How to assess speaking skills?
Fluency and accuracy in the oral message.
Speech and written message: similarity and difference.
What makes a successful speaking sequence in the English language classroom?

Please use the "contact us" button to send your articles or questions.

A wiki about Web 2.0 resources for teachers

2010-03-03T19:25:00.000+01:00

Posted by Tarak Brahmi
David Kapuler,Technology Integration Specialist from Greendale School District, U.S.A. has recently created a great wiki displaying an extremely useful list of Web 2.0 resources for use in the classroom or for delivering online lessons. The list includes audio, videoconferencing, bookmarking, file sharing, photo editing, survey, web quest, digital storytelling tools, and much more. It is worth pointing out that David gives the wiki members the opportunity to download the six volumes of the Digital Books (aka Blog Companions).
You are invited to have a look at the contents of the wiki. You can also become a member and start adding useful tools that you have found interesting.
To visit David's wiki, here is the link.

Assessing Speaking

2010-02-27T00:27:00.000+01:00

A PowerPoint presentation by Farida ben Abdallah, Trainee Inspector

Although there is a growing interest in assessing speaking in the EFL context, it is still one of the most problematic and intricate areas in teaching English not only because it is about assessing students’ speech production skills in a foreign language but also because of the inherent complexities of testing speaking in general.
In this PowerPoint presentation, Farida ben Abdallah outlines some of the major procedures related to the assessment of students’ speaking skills in the context of EFL in general and in the context of the Tunisian schools in particular. This PowerPoint presentation is here to serve as an initiator for an in-depth research about the many facets of assessing speaking. A more detailed article by Ferida ben Abdallah will be published in our next issue of the “Tunisian ELT Forum” in May 2010.

Here are links to some relevant articles and presentations:

Note: The presentation by Ferida ben Abdallah can also be downloaded from here

Integrating ICT in ELT, a workshop organised by the British Council

2010-02-13T18:13:00.000+01:00

Article by Fathi Bouguerra, teacher trainer in Sidi Bouzid.

Recently-published textbooks in Tunisia have taken into consideration the impressive development in audio, video and computer-mediated communication (CMC). There is a focus on the use of some technological resources ( web-based material/CD-ROMs), the focus is also on how students can use the internet to enhance their speaking, listening and pronunciation skills in a foreign language. Students can learn communicative skills in a less threatening environment using technologies such as chat rooms, discussion forums, email and activities such as webquests - a constructivist approach to learning.

It is within this framework that the Ministry of Education – with the coordination of the British Council organized on January the 30th, 2010 a regional seminar in Sidi Bouzid. 45 teachers were invited to attend a session presented by Mr. Christian Charter who started his presentation with a familiarization activity. The stress was laid upon the fact that the wealth of information on the web will, by no means, exclude the role of the teacher. This latter is supposed to select the activities that best suit the level of his /her learners and the context where s/he is teaching.

The trainer also handed some worksheets about lesson planning, introduced new websites such as premierskills.britishcouncil.org and reminded teachers of other sites they are already familiar with, namely www.go4english.com. After that teachers sat in groups of six to browse the new websites and answer some questions that relate to the new material presented. What I personally appreciate is the discussion held on teacher development, showing to teachers-both novice and veteran - that growing as professional is lifelong; besides that no one is beyond training.
Because teachers in different parts of the world voice the same problem about the lack of authentic listening material, the trainer seized this opportunity to tell the audience about an easy way to download at least 20 passages from a link called Podcasts. Then, he made them listen to a fairy tale entitled Cinderella. While listening, teachers were asked to tick 10 'true or false' statements. The focus was also on the idea that such activities will not need much effort as well as time on the part of teachers who felt relaxed and eager to use the material with their learners.

As we need material for the third hour the trainer pointed out to the importance of using games and songs to involve learners (involve me and I will learn), make the classroom activities motivating for both teachers and students and thus avoid boredom. Music creates a relaxing learning environment and can also be used to help students concentrate while reading a text or to mark a brief pause in the lesson before moving to another activity. « Songs can increase motivation to learn the language » Throuton James. Learning from the proverb « All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy », games create good teaching and learning conditions. They, by their nature, generate interest, motivation and entertainment. Unlike the common tradition of teaching that all learning should be serious and solemn, communicative and creative methods preach ‘…having fun and hilarity ... ’. It is possible to learn language and enjoy oneself at a time. One of the best things of doing this is through games.
The seminar was another occasion for teachers to bear in mind that the days of amateur teaching are over. This means that teachers are compelled to update their methods and vary their techniques. One way of doing this is cooperation – inter and intra schools. The lack of material will no longer be an excuse as we have plenty of it and here lies the importance of the material delivered to us by the British Council .I mean here all the websites. So, the burden now is on us-teachers to prove that the teacher is an artisan, active creator of techniques and teaching material. «A teacher affects eternity; he can never know where his influence stops. » (Henry Brooks Adams). Last but not least, the seminar came at a crucial moment of the reform in the Tunisian schools and one of its aspects is the use of call labs.
I personally think that the seminar has removed all the clouds hanging over the issue of material that teachers will need first in the third hour and second in the call lab.

**Photos by Fathi Belhedi, CREFOC Sidi Bouzid

A new selection of tests

2010-02-08T17:21:00.000+01:00

This is a selection of tests that was posted by some of our colleagues to be included in the Test Bank section of the forum. These tests are not, of course, expected to be taken as models to be followed. The contributors have generously sent them not because they assume that they are flawless but because they want them to be discussed and improved if necessary. Feedback and comments are highly encouraged!

The Test Bank section and the tests can be accessed from here.

Sample test

*Special thanks to Mr. Bouguerra, our colleagues in Sidi Ali Ben Aoun, Mr. Dhahri in Souk Jedid and our colleagues in Ibn Arafa Secondary School for their valuable contributions.

The Tunisian English Language Teaching Forum, issue2

2010-01-18T16:22:00.000+01:00

The second issue of the Tunisian English Language Teaching Forum (January 2010) is here.
In this issue you can read:

Testing Reading by Mohamed Salah Abidi
Issues in Testing Writing in Tunisia by Abdessalam Bouafia
To Assess the Assessment by Pedro Moura
Lesson plan: Teaching Poetry by Abdelhamid Rhaiem
Assessment: Types & Objectives by Nawfel Zouidi
Student Motivation by Fathi Bouguerra
An interview with Steve Peha,the president of TTMS

And more…
Many thanks for all the contributors for their time, patience and enlightening articles.

Short Story competition for 12-18 year olds in Tunisa

2009-12-21T00:29:00.000+01:00

"As part of the British Council’s global activities during 2009 to celebrate its 75 years of work in cultural relations, British Council Tunisia launches its 75 Anniversary Short Story Writing Competition...

The competition is open to 12-18 year olds in Tunisia and runs from 15 November 2009 to 17 February, 2010. It is open to Tunisian nationals only. There are two age categories, 12-14 and 15-18. Prizes will be awarded to winners in both age categories. Entries will not only be judged on the basis of standard writing marking criteria but also on originality and creativity, which will be viewed very highly. Winners from each group will be notified by the end of March 2010 and presented with their prizes by the end of April 2010. Students from across Tunisia are invited to enter this Short Story competition..."

For more details, visit the British Council Tunisia website by clicking here .

Workshop: Teaching Critical Reading

2009-12-07T08:31:00.000+01:00

Posted by Mohamed Salah ABIDI, ELT Inspector.

"The following reading activities are elaborated by groups of teachers of English at the workshop organized at the CREFOC of Sidi Bouzid on November 14th, 2009. The aim of the session is to raise awareness of the benefits of being creative and teach beyond the textbook. The worksheets developed by the different groups of teachers are not lesson plans to follow implementing in the classroom.
Topic: Teaching Critical Reading through Applying Bloom’s Taxonomy
Audience: Teachers of 1st Year Secondary Education
Material: a selection of reading passages from the textbook “Perform through English”.
Step1: a PowerPoint presentation by Belgacim HAMDI, a trainee inspector at the CENAFFE.
Step2: Groups of teachers design reading activities relative to the reading passages selected from the above mentioned textbook.
Step3: OHP presentation of the activities by representatives of the groups and discussion and feedback."

Reading activities elaborated by teachers during the workshop:

Teaching critical reading: A PowerPoint presentation by Belgacim HAMDI

N.B: To download these documents, check also the Download Area: Workshops -> Teaching Critical Reading.

The Test Sampler IN ITS ENTIRETY!

2009-12-02T21:44:00.000+01:00

The Test Sampler has received a very warm response from teachers as it is an essential reference for everyone who is interested in constructing clear, valid and cogent tests. For your convenience, the Test Sampler is here in its entirety.Check the sidebar for the full version.
To download it, follow these links:
Link 1
Link 2

New in the testing system

2009-12-02T16:01:00.000+01:00

IMPORTANT: A few changes have been made to the official documents regarding tests (Basic & Secondary Education: click here to go to the related post) . Teachers are kindly requested to consult those documents and to make sure that the end-of-term tests and all coming tests conform to the previously mentioned directives and reflect those new changes.
Those and other documents can also be viewed here:
Evaluation in Basic Education:

Evaluation in Technical Basic Education:

Ongoing Evaluation in Secondary Education:

How to use the 4th Year Book (Skills For Life):

Happy Eid!

2009-11-26T19:04:00.000+01:00

Our friend Abdelhamid RHAIM wants to share this presentation with you just to cheer everybody up and brighten up your day. May all your days be blissful and joyful celebrations!
Wisdom: A PowerPoint presentation by Abdelhamid RHAIM, Gabes University:

We wish you a Happy Eid.

Test Sampler : Exclusively on the Tunisian ELT Forum!

2009-11-21T23:52:00.000+01:00

Test Sampler is an unpublished document elaborated by the Tunisian ELT Inspectors in the form of an Action Research. ELT Inspector Mohamed Salah ABIDI has kindly sent this great resource "with the purpose that the teachers have access to it and find guidance to develop their own tests fit for their classroom situations without using these samples to evaluate their learners."
The second Part of this indispensable document will be uploaded next month.

Waiting for your articles!

2009-11-21T23:10:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone!
We are already thinking about the next issue of our magazine which will be published in January 2010. The central theme of the next issue will be "Assessment". We are avidly waiting for your articles, comments, suggestions and opinions about the next topic.
For details on how to send your articles, we kindly refer you to our magazine(page 2) and the FAQs section on the forum.
The Tunisian ELT Forum Magazine Team

Sample tests By Rihab Bouden

2009-11-21T22:41:00.000+01:00

A Document submitted by Rihab Bouden, Faidh Preparatory School.
Rihab Bouden explains how she makes sure her tests "conform to both the requirements of the official syllabus in terms of topics, skills and activities and the recommendations of the official texts that regulate assessment in Tunisian preparatory schools" through some sample tests that are consistent with the ideal that tests, as Rihab pointedly states, "shall reflect the learning expected to have been acquired via the official textbooks in use."

[Click on the thumb above to preview the document]

British English Versus American English by ELT Inspector, Mohamed Salah ABIDI

2009-11-15T16:02:00.000+01:00

G.B. Shaw observed that "We (the British and Americans) are two countries separated by a common language." The differences between American English and British English are not insignificant and they are something our students should be aware of.
To answer the following question, read the chart below contributed by ELT inspector Mohamed Salah ABIDI.

Q:Decide whether the sentence is written in British or American English.
1) English is my favourite subject at school.
British English
American English

2) Have you seen Dick's new truck?
British English
American English

3) The park is in the center of our town.
British English
American English

4) Mr Barnes, our caretaker, found my key.
British English
American English

5) I like French fries, they're very crispy.
British English
American English

6) Have you seen the latest movie?
British English
American English

7) I've passed this test. So I'll get my driving licence very soon.
British English
American English

8) The accident happened because the blue car didn't stop at the traffic lights.
British English
American English

9) Tom told me to get off the Underground at Tower Hill.
British English
American English

10) They have moved into a semi-detached house.
British English
American English

Source( question): http://useit.vn/content/view/3496/378/lang,english

A Chart:British English Versus American English by ELT Inspector, Mohamed Salah ABIDI:

[Click on the thumb above to preview the document]

Workshops: Lesson Planning

2009-11-10T20:26:00.000+01:00

Article by Fathi Bouguerra (Teacher trainer)
Sidi Bouzid Training Center (CREFOC)
Traning session 1: Lesson Planning, October 2009

In the brainstorming activity we stressed the fact that planning is essential to both experienced and inexperienced teachers. Planning enables the teacher to organize learning situations toward chosen goals. It also helps in what Huebener calls “anticipatory teaching, for the learning situation is lived, through, mentally, in advance”
In the next phase teachers attended a PowerPoint presentation(*) - prepared by Mr. Belgacem Hamdi and Mr. Mohamed Salah Abidi- where Mr. Hamdi spoke about some aspects of lesson planning ranging form steps of the lesson, going through the art of mixing techniques and culminating in the idea that lesson plans involve two major portions of the actual teaching process: objectives and classroom activities.
After the break teachers worked in groups- according to levels. They were asked to prepare lesson plans that highlighted the principles of lesson planning dealt with in the training session. While teachers were presenting their work Mr. Mohamed Salah Abidi insisted on the idea that “We can’t direct the wind but we can adjust the sails”.
He also added that an over-reliance on the textbook may well cause the teachers to give classes which are not as motivating as they should be. Linearity in dealing with lessons may demotivate the students. Hence when planning lessons teachers need to choose, select appropriate activities, highlight variety and balance and be ready to shift gear whenever they deem necessary.
Teachers should always remember that when planning a lesson, a teacher adopts what he can adopt, and adapts what is adaptable. They should also be flexible and take things easy. I mean if a teacher can open up a knot with his fingers, why he should open it with his teeth.

*PowerPoint Presentation:

[Click on the thumb above to preview the document]

Lesson Planning (word document):

[Click on the thumb above to preview the document]

General recommendations (word document):

[Click on the thumb above to preview the document]

New in the forum: The "Test Bank" Section

2009-11-02T18:03:00.000+01:00

As we are in the "test season", a new section has been added to enable teachers of English in Tunisia to share tests and worksheets. This can serve as a large database where teachers can easily find what they are looking for. So if you want to share or if you are looking for interesting listening passages, language activities, reading materials, etc.. you've come to the right place! Some materials will be added shortly but we count on your contributions to make this forum a real space for sharing and cooperation.
Good luck everyone!

Here is a small collection of worksheets that can be used as revision materials (Unit 1) for the 4th Year (Sec. Educ.) students. If you find any mistakes, please let us know and we will immediately make the necessary changes.

Waiting for your feedback and comments!

The “Be careful” culture by Naoufel Zouidi

2009-10-26T20:40:00.000+01:00

By Naoufel Zouidi, Lessouda Secondary School.
E-mail: zouidinaoufel@gmail.com

Starting a teaching career is not an easy matter. It is rather an adventure full of hardships and troubles. New teachers all over the world may find it very difficult to cope with some discouraging conditions that impede their development as teachers and therefore look for someone to share their worries. Friends and family members never miss such an opportunity to show their wisdom: ‘be careful I know some teachers who really suffered and had serious problems’, ‘be careful pupils nowadays are very naughty so try to be strict and don’t let them win the battle against you’, ‘be careful some colleagues are very bad people’…The list is long. Just imagine the situation and you will find plenty of warnings. That makes a new teacher feel he/she is going to fight against pupils, colleagues, and even the job he is doing. He/She just struggles to settle.
Complaints about pupils’ level appear after one or two months and new warnings come out: ‘be careful the inspector will come soon’, ‘be careful he/she may write a report to the ministry if your lesson fails’, ‘be careful your pupils will get the worst results and your future as a teacher is at stake’, ‘be careful pupils will tell the headmaster that you are not as successful as their previous teacher’, ‘be careful if you fail this year you will never be a successful teacher’. Thus, a new struggle starts and the new teacher will be certain that his/her destiny is to be always careful and ready to fight which is not true in fact. Most people did their best to be teachers and therefore fulfill one of their childhood dreams. There is no greater pleasure than having the opportunity to grant knowledge and enlighten others. So be proud of being a teacher and forget about your fears since you are doing a really noble job. Be careful my article is over…

The first issue of our magazine is here!

2009-10-26T20:11:00.000+01:00

Open publication

Snapshots from the magazine:

To download the Tunisian English Teaching Forum e-magazine, to rate it, add feedback and comments, embed it on your own blog or website, share it with friends or print it, please visit our page here:
The Tunisian English Teaching Forum e-magazine

What they said about the magazine:

“After reading this magazine all I can say is, WOW. This is a well thought out/written publication that incorporates every facet of education; from having a successful start to the school year, to how to best implement technology into education.” Read more

David Kapuler, Media & Technology Specialist, Greendale School District, U.S.A

“It is a very enjoyable, informative read and makes for a great practical resource, which can be referenced again and again.” Read more

Patricia Donaghy
ICT Teacher
Dublin, Ireland

“I have just come across your extremely elegant online magazine and I was delighted to be able to learn so much about ELT in Tunisia.”

Susan Thornhill ,Regional Sales Manager – North Africa Macmillan Education, Oxford

Be your pupils’ friend by Naoufel Zouidi

2009-10-25T15:37:00.000+01:00

By Naoufel Zouidi, Lessouda Secondary School.
E-mail:zouidinaoufel@gmail.com

Pupils are strongly influenced by the way their teachers treat them. If you succeed to create a friendly learning atmosphere you will find it very easy to transfer information and therefore achieve your objectives. A teacher who is always shouting at his young audience is like a master who obliges his slaves to obey his orders, but our role as Language teachers is to make our pupils speak, use and communicate through English. Communication never means “Must and Must not”. It is a system that highlights exchange and discussion but avoids obligation and punishment. Try to forget about your daily life problems when you start working because pupils are not responsible for a salary delay or a family dispute. They come to school to learn and meet teachers who explain lessons and replace parents for eight hours a day. So be the father/mother you are teaching about and help pupils know the meaning of adjectives such as helpful, understanding, open-minded, affectionate, caring and friendly. In that way even pupils who do not like the subject will make efforts to take part in your lesson and make it successful. It is simply because it is their friend’s lesson. So be your pupils’ friend.

Just for fun
•Teacher: What's the longest word in the English language?
Pupil: ‘Smiles’ - because there is a mile between the first and last letters!
•Teacher: What is the plural of mouse?
Pupil: Mice
Teacher : Good, now what's the plural of baby?
Pupil : Twins!

Intelligent questions and answers
http://faq.programmerworld.net
Q. How can you lift an elephant with one hand?
A. It is not a problem, since you will never find an elephant with
one hand!!!
Q. What can you never eat for breakfast?
A. Dinner!!!
Q. What looks like half an apple?
A. The other half!!!

The information meetings for the school year 2009/2010

2009-10-15T21:39:00.000+01:00

The information meetings for the school year 2009/2010 were held on Friday 9th, and Saturday 10th of October, 2009 at the CREFOC, Sidi Bouzid.
The inspector, Mohamed Salah Abidi, welcomed all the teachers (newcomers and veterans).He presented this year's agenda and went over a number of important issues concerning the various curricula, formative evaluation, assessment,the English programmes, the CALL labs, etc..
The teachers had the opportunity to ask questions, share their worries and discuss some of the problems they anticipated like the lack of equipment (CD players, cassette players, etc..).
The inspector handed out some documents related to testing (covering all the aspects of testing for this year) and the information pertaining to the curriculum changes or specifications for some levels.
The meeting was also an opportunity to present the newly born forum and the electronic magazine and how they can be an effective tool in promoting sharing and collaboration among teachers and a space for them to voice their opinions and discuss matters related to teaching English in Tunisian schools.
After the wrap up, an information form was filled in by the participants.
Note: These are the "Assessment for Secondary Education", "Assessment for Basic Education" documents and "The Programmes of English for Basic Education" for the convenience of those who were not able to get them. Other documents will be uploaded to the forum soon.

Assessment for Basic Education:

The Programmes of English for Basic Education:

English Programmes for Year 3 & Year 4 Secondary Education:

"The snag with English in Tunisia" by Abdelmalek Hadji

2009-08-31T23:13:00.000+01:00

An article by Abdelmalek Hadji, Senior Teacher, Dar Chabaane Secondary School.

Reading through the literature issued by the ministry of education and training about the profile of the outgoing student after the 7 years of prep and secondary education, a statement reiterated in every page of the orientation book drew my attention.
It says ‘the outgoing student is expected to have a good command of three languages (at least) in spoken, read and written forms.’’

Do factual data gathered after national exams corroborate these expectations?
How do we account for the common students’ underachievement in languages?

Our major concern in this paper is the substandard outcome of the outgoing students and the way to address it.

To continue reading this article or to download it, see the document below:

A sample lesson plan using Bloom’s taxonomy by Hechmi Hamdi

2009-08-30T19:26:00.000+01:00

Posted by Hechmi Hamdi ,a teacher of English in Ibn Roshd High School, El Maknassy, Sidi Bouzid.
This is a lesson plan applying Bloom's taxonomy for 4th year secondary students.
It thoroughly explains the procedure that could be implemented and details the steps that both teacher and students would follow."The focus in the procedures is intensively and extensively set on applying critical thinking via critical questions."
Lesson Plan details:
Lesson :Education for all
Page: 93
Unit :2
Level :Year 4 secondary education
Source: Skills for life

About Hechmi Hamdi:
EFL teacher since 1996
Ibn Roshd High School in El Maknassy
Main interests: test construction,translation,media studies
Proficiency certificate from Brighton University 1991

Guidelines For Better Power Point Presentations

2009-08-30T13:59:00.000+01:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Guidelines For Better Power Point Presentations

This presentation offers guidelines and tips on how to make better PowerPoint presentations. Here is also a list of well-designed presentations that can be used in the classroom: chompchomp
Important:You need to prepare a printed version of your presentation(handouts) just in case.

View more presentations from tarakbr.

Ideas for the classroom: The Weekly Class Newsletter

2009-08-28T21:40:00.000+01:00

I came across this weekly classroom newsletter template while browsing Reading Rockets for interesting reading materials. The original template is meant for "parents [who] love to know what's going on in their child's classroom.". This inspired me to use the template to produce a Weekly class newsletter that I stick on the classroom's door every week. It displays information about what the students are going to learn during the week, important expressions /idioms/proverbs, local news, riddles, world news, reading and writing tips, common mistakes, etc..
To download the original template (with graphics and headlines), please click here.

Direct / Indirect Speech : PowerPoint Presentation

2009-08-28T21:36:00.000+01:00

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Direct Indirect Speech

View more presentations from tarakbr.

"Proverbs in Action" worksheet

2009-08-08T00:10:00.000+01:00

Summary: In this activity, the learners will have the opportunity to think about the significance of proverbs, and how they are formed. They will be asked to complete the proverb with the missing words with reference to the pictures. The aim of activity is to provide a visual reference that learners can later use to remember the proverb. Besides, it is a good activity for visual learners, especially kids. For intermediate level learners, this can be used as a starting point to think about how proverbs work and to relate proverbs to their own lives through writing or speaking.

Skills: Speaking/Reading

Objectives: To learn about proverbs and their cultural significance

Time: 10-15 minutes

Level: beginner to intermediate

Procedure: Learners sit in groups. They are asked to complete the missing words to get the proverbs. Then, they think about similar proverbs in their own language. The learners may be encouraged to ask their partners to guess the proverbs. If they do, they get on point for that. If they don’t, the next partner tries to do it, and so on. The pictures can also be used later to help the learners remember the proverbs. For intermediate level learners, the teacher can ask them to write about a particular proverb that is particularly meaningful for them and how it relates to their real lives.

This is a second handout that can be used along with the first one.

CALL lab: Teachers' comments

2009-07-25T16:24:00.001+01:00

Teacher: Najoua Abdelhak
School: Ouled Haffouz Preparatory School

“Lucky are the English teachers in Tunisia

because they are always given the opportunity to use new and facilitating technologies in helping pupils to get the language. In fact, on the 8th of July this year, I attended a training session called "Multilab" centered around using the computer as a technology in teaching English.
I expected the session to be about ways to improve our pupils' pronunciation but I found something different and I was surprised and excited for two reasons: first, the program was really rich and interesting. Second, Multilab was not just a theory to speak about and a paper and a pen to take notes then leave. Practice was the hero, though more is needed. Multilab is about using the computer in group sessions . It can be used in different ways and I think that it has many benefits. It is a way to:

better present the materials of the lesson.

motivate pupils and lover their affective filter.

enable pupils to get the language and practie it easily.

better deal with the mixed abilities classes.

make pupils responsible about their learning.

get teachers and pupils used to deal with the English language through the computer as a technology.

Using the computer in teaching is really helpful and for those who can not manipulate it well and easily and I am one of them, summer is no longer an opportunity to just relax and read stories, it is an occassion to prepare oneself for a future where the teacher is the pillar of the class and technology is the pillar of teaching.
At the end, special thanks are given to Mr Fathi Bouguerra as well as to Mr Abdennbi Omri for their excellent presentation of the material, their patience and the light atmosphere they provided us with. They were really clear, helpful and friendly and their jokes cooled the heat of day. ”

Why Should We Raise The Issue Of Differentiating Instruction?

2009-07-18T15:15:00.001+01:00

Differentiating Instruction: A workshop by Inspector & Teacher Trainer Mohamed Salah Abidi (CREFOC,Sidi Bouzid. July 2009)

"Differentiated instruction (sometimes referred to as differentiated learning) is a way of thinking about teaching and learning. Differentiating instruction involves providing students with different avenues to acquiring content; to processing, constructing, or making sense of ideas; and to developing teaching products so that all students within a classroom can learn effectively, regardless of differences in ability." From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The workshop focuses on answering the following questions:

Why should we raise the issue of DI?
What are the desired outcomes of the workshop?
Defining the concept of Differentiating Instruction
Is Differentiating Instruction a new trend in Pedagogy?
The rationale underlying this method
Why differentiate?
How different are students in a mixed ability class?
What is ZPD?

and other quesions as well.
Check the slideshow and Appendix for more details.

Why Should We Raise The Issue Of Di

View more presentations from tetforum.

To download this PowerPoint presentation, check our "Download Area" on the sidebar.
(Name:Why should we raise the issue of DI.ppt Size:91 KB)

Appendix Di
To download these handouts, check our "Download Area" on the sidebar.(Name:Appendix_DI.doc Size:110 KB)

View more documents from tetforum.

welcome

2009-07-17T11:53:00.000+01:00

hello everybody. i'm fathi bouguerra. an efl teacher and a trainer in the region of sidi bouzid. the rational behind the creation of this blog is not new. it stems from the fact that the days of traditional teaching are over and for the sake of growing professional we need to coopreate whether intra or inter school and why not inter regions. cascading material and sharing what we know is the key to success. so have a go and remember that the appetite comes whaile eating, and that the journey of hundred miles begins with one step . we think together, plan together and inshallah improve together. till the next contact take care and good luck in everything you do.

Formative Evaluation

2009-07-14T16:58:00.001+01:00

Formative Evaluation: A workshop by Inspector & Teacher Trainer Mohamed Salah Abidi (CREFOC,Sidi Bouzid. July 2009)

CREFOC, Sidi Bouzid:

Day 1 of the workshop began with the inspector initiating a brainstorming session that invited the participants to answer a few important questions (see sideshow). This session provided a clear framework for the workshop and led to the realization that it is important for teachers to start thinking about why formative assessment should be part and parcel of their teaching practices.

Later on, the participants sat in groups and started discussing the differences both in terms of terminology and application of the notion of summative and formative assessment with reference to the first handout (see handouts below). The discussion was rounded up by commenting on a quote by Robert Stake “When the cook tastes the soup, that's formative; when the guests taste the soup, that's summative.” Then, the participants thought about the difference between assessment for learning and assessment of learning.

After reading and thinking about some of the principles outlined by the Assessment Reform Group (document 2), the participants were also encouraged to analyze the process of formative assessment and to discuss the teachers' intentions and the benefits for the learners by completing a chart.(document 5 ).

On day 2, the inspector and the participants took some time thinking about the benefits of formative assessment for teachers and learners. Teachers were invited to think about what tools are needed to effectively implement a formative evaluation. Some of the tools that were discussed included conducting surveys. The groups were asked to think about the practice of formative assessment in the Tunisian context. The participants discussed the various formative assessment activities present on the textbooks in use for secondary school students.

By the end of the workshop, there was an overall agreement among teachers that formative assessment was not completely absent from their daily teaching practices but that it was rather done unconsciously and often in a unproductive way. They concluded that it has to be an indispensable component of their teaching.

To download this PowerPoint presentation, check our "Download Area" on the sidebar.
(Name:Formative Evaluation.ppt Size:79 KB)

To download the above handouts, check our "Download Area" on the sidebar.
(Name:Appendix.doc Size:76 KB)

On being eclectic

2009-07-12T21:50:00.001+01:00

For a number of years, many teachers sat on what they assume is a safe ground , that of aligning with “eclecticism”. For some, it means choosing what seems adequate from the existing methods. For others, it means not only the principled use of these methods but also the need to adjust their teaching to their immediate environments as they are aware of the fact that certain methods fall short of realizing that social, cultural and other factors are determining aspects in deciding what works best for them and their students.
Eclecticism is a response to the inherent limitations of the notion of “method” because “the conception and construction of methods have been largely guided by a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter approach that assumes a common clientele with common goals.” Kumaravadivelu, Beyond Methods: Macrostrategies for Language teaching (2003).
While it seemed for many a wise and cogent position, eclecticism has been criticized for being guided more by “common-sense” rather than by a principled view: "It does not offer any guidance on what basis and by what principles aspects of different methods can be selected and combined." Stern (1983). He explains that “The choice is left to the individual’s intuitive judgment and is, therefore, too broad and too vague to be satisfactory as a theory in its own right.” Stern (1992).
Henry Widdowson (1990) warns that “if by eclecticism is meant the random and expedient use of whatever technique comes most readily to hand, then it has no merit whatever”.

The first claim that eclecticism is rather based on “common-sense”, hence lending itself to vagueness and inconsistency draws on the belief that to be convincing, pedagogy needs to be governed by facts and certitudes rather than by inconsistencies and differences. Teaching and learning, however, are far from being accurate sciences: As Kumaravadivelu observes, "the success or failure of classroom instruction depends to a large extent on the unstated and unstable interaction of multiple factors such as teacher cognition, learner perception,
societal needs, cultural contexts, political exigencies, economic imperatives, and institutional constraints, all of which are inextricably interwoven."
Besides, even in his account of the three parameters of a postmethod pedagogy, namely particularity, practicality, and possibility, Kumaravadivelu notes that "inevitably, the boundaries of the particular, the practical, and the
possible are blurred."

The second criticism doesn't challenge the relevance of 'eclecticism' per se. However, it points teachers to the right direction by making it clear that to be successful, eclecticism should not be random and irresponsible. This is what Diane Larsen-Freeman (Techniques and Principles in Language Teaching) refers to as "principled eclecticism".
The point is that "eclecticism" is a fair choice if it is done properly. That is to say, it shouldn't be " an excuse not to go deeply into methodology [and] cognitive research" As Patricia Arias, a teacher from Argentina states in her reply to Scott Thornbury's article "Methods, post-method, and métodos" on teachingenglish.org.uk ( link to article )
Attentiveness to the existing theories and to their limitations, the ability to "learn to cope with competing pulls and pressures representing the content and character of professional preparation, personal beliefs, institutional constraints, learner expectations, assessment instruments, and other factors" (Kumaravadivelu, 2003) are determining aspects in shaping a good eclectic stance that is both self-conscious (aware of theories and methods) and effective (takes account of the context and “local” specificities to make sure a proper teaching and learning experience would take place).
So, eclecticism is here to stay although it may seem as a challenge to the certitude of theories. It is, in fact, a sign of teachers’ maturity and their readiness to take responsibility for what they know best, i.e., teaching.

Article by tarak brahmi [my blog]

References:

Diane Larsen-Freeman 2000. Techniques and principles in language teaching

Kumaravadivelu, B. 2003. Beyond Methods: Macrostrategies for Language teaching

Scott Thornbury 2009, Methods, post-method, and métodos link

Stern, H.H. 1983. Fundamental Concepts of Language Teaching

Technorati Tags: eclecticism,Kumaravadivelu,language teaching,postmethod,pedagogy,english,theory,method

Useful resources for EFL teachers

2009-07-12T02:30:00.000+01:00

Videos, documentaries, TV shows, Games, News, Photo Galleries of famous inventors, History makers, celebrities, poets, writers, politicians… Barack Obama along with Bruce Lee, Abraham Lincoln, Michael Jackson, Nelson Mandela, Neil Armstrong and thousands of famous people; all meet in one place,and that is here: biography.com

wordahead: is a great vocabulary-learning site.

Encourage your students to polish their typing skills with this great tool form BBC: link
Free cliparts for use in your classroom by Discovery: link
For intremediate and advanced learners, check the Lesson Plans Library ( videos, lesson plans and downloadable comprehension questions and answers):
This site offers free certificates to print that you can use for the student of the month,star student certificates, attendance awards, most improved student, teacher of the month, rewarding homework success or better classroom performance: link

For young poets in your classroom, these websites can be very useful: rhymezone & wordcentral. Students type in a word to find words that rhyme with it.
Create online quizzes for your students with proprofs

A workshop on CALL and English language Teaching

2009-07-09T16:55:00.001+01:00

A workshop on how to integrate CALL with English Language Teaching by Teacher Trainer Fathi Bouguerra and Lab Specialist Abdennabi Omri was held at The CREFOC in Lessouda, Sidi Bouzid (8th,9th, and 10th of July, 2009). The workshop shed light on how Multilab, a creative and innovative technology from EDU4, can be used to teach English in our schools. More details will be posted here soon.

The User guide for Multilab (in French) is now available on our blog. To download it, check our Download Area on the sidebar.

Technorati Tags: multilab,edu4,tunisia,workshop,english,teacher,trainer,CALL,training

News from Tunisia : A Workshop for EFL teachers about Formative Assessment held in Sidi Bouzid (July 2009)

2009-07-09T16:33:00.001+01:00

For teaching to be prolific and for learning to be successful, teachers need to be attentive to the importance of constantly evaluating the content they deliver to their students and the relevance of that content to them. Teachers can do that by means of observing how students learn, by focusing on their needs and “adjusting instruction as appropriate”…

A two-day workshop by Supervisor and Teacher Trainer Mr. Mohamed Salah Abidi on Formative Assessment was held at the CREFOC, Lessouda, Sidi Bouzid on July 7th and 8th, 2009. An exhaustive coverage of the workshop will be posted here and in our magazine soon.

Technorati Tags: formative assessment,teaching,english,teacher,student,summative,workshop,tunisia,supervisor

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

2009-07-04T21:36:00.000+01:00

Do you have a question about something? Read through our Frequently Asked Questions and find the answers you're looking for!

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
1-How do I become a member?
You just need to send an email to the forum's authors. You will receive an email with details of your membership shortly.
2-How can I send an article?
First, you need to become a member ( question 1 above). Then, you need to follow the guidelines of writing an article (read details here).When you send your article to the authors of the blog, a confirmation email will be sent to you within 5-10 days.
3-Is this blog limited to teachers?
No, of course not! Everyone is free to join as long as they are interested in the field of EFL teaching.
4-How can I send questions?
You can add your questions in the "Question and answers" section of the forum, which will be available soon.
5-How can this site help me in my teaching?
In many ways. While browsing the contents of this forum, you will notice that there is a variety of materials that can be of immediate help to you. Articles, tips, lesson plans are some of the resources that are here for you to look at.
6-How do I upload files to this forum?
You can send them to the authors' emails or upload them here in the "Download Area",which is reserved to members and frequent submitters. However, you are strongly encouraged to use the first option for more convenience and
reliability.
7-How do I download materials?
You can download worksheets, lesson plans and other materials from our "Download Area" on the sidebar.
8-Can I get a printed version of this forum?
Yes, you can print, bookmark or share this forum with friends. Check the sidebar
9-Is this blog free?
Absolutely. This site is completely free.No fees are required.
10-Can I write reviews of the online books in the Read Books Online section of the blog?
Yes, of course. This is even highly appreciated as it can serve as some kind of feedback for other readers. You can do this by clicking on the "Read more about this book" link in the bottom of the reading area of the book.
11-How do I write book reviews?
Here is an interesting article about how to write a book review: article

Guidelines for writing articles

2009-07-04T21:29:00.000+01:00

The Tunisian English Teaching Forum is a blog and a magazine for Teachers of English as a Foreign language. It publishes articles of interest to teachers, educators, inspectors and all those who are related to TEFL. Article subjects range from research that pertain to TEFL and education in general to stories that inform, issues that teachers face in their day-to-day lives as teachers, questions that arise while teaching, tips, advice, lesson plans, suggestions, etc..

If you are keen on sharing your expertise, stories, findings, frustrations, you are invited to send your articles to The Tunisian English Teaching Forum.

The Tunisian English Teaching Forum magazine will be published four times a year. So, articles will be chosen on the following criteria:

Variety: The magazine will try to vary its content.So, articles that deal with different topics will be more likely to be published in the same issue.
Length: It is more desirable to have "reasonably" long articles in order to make room for more articles.
Relevance: Articles that are directly related to TEFL in particular and education in general will have precedence.
Space: This is also a determining factor as the magazine has only a limited number of pages.
Balance: Trying to give all voices an equal chance to talk and share their views is another serious endeavor.

However, The Tunisian English Teaching Forum blog will host articles on a regular daily basis and there are fewer limitations concerning the number of articles that can be published online.

Format:

Articles should be typed in a known electronic format( .doc, .pdf, .rtf, .txt, .html) but articles that are typed on paper ( OCR ready: that can be read by text-recognition devices like scanners) are also accepted. Articles should preferably range from one page to four pages.

Other details:

A brief description/summary of your article (50-100 words) is highly encouraged although it is not compulsory. You are also encouraged to write a few lines about yourself, your interests and your experience along with your email address.

References and quotations:

A good article is an article that pays attention to references and quotations. There are a few referencing systems in use like MLA and APA. We are sticking with the MLA system for the sake of consistency. For more details about these systems, you can visit easybib.com.

The APA Quick reference guide can be downloaded here

Fees /payment:

No fees are received by you or this magazine for publishing your articles as this blog, magazine and the resources are totally free.

If your article is published elsewhere, please mention that to us.

Best regards,

The Tunisian English Teaching Forum team

Teachers TV : the TV channel for teachers

2009-07-04T14:03:00.001+01:00

Teachers TV is a website dedicated to helping teachers grow professionally.. It “ supports the professional development of anyone working in school, enabling them to widen their skills, develop their practice, and connect with others in the field” …“through engaging videos, practical resources and an active online community”.

These are some of the many advantages of registering free with this great website: “

Instant access to up to date professional development videos and resources
Learn from other education professionals by going inside their classrooms and into their schools
Save time with practical tips, lesson ideas and classroom resources
Help across the year to meet classroom targets and achieve personal goals
Keep informed with content covering the latest developments in the education agenda "

Many thanks for my friend and colleague Mohammed Ajmi Fekih for mentioning this site.

Check these two great sites for free resources for students and educators

2009-07-01T16:12:00.001+01:00

The following two sites are two real mines of gold for students and teachers alike. They include freeware and open source tools that are carefully chosen by our friend Patricia Donaghy.

Link to the first blog:http://pdonaghy.edublogs.org/

Link to the second blog:http://pdonaghy.blogspot.com/

N.B: To go to these sites, you can also click on the snapshots.

Our blog is now registered with the Edubloggers Directory!

2009-07-01T15:47:00.001+01:00

International Edubloggers Directory is a great place for “edubloggers from around the world [that] provides an easy way to find out what other edubloggers are blogging about.This site also includes a shared events calendar and wiki site where members may add relevant dates and links to a central location, which will hopefully prove useful to all educators - both edubloggers and non edubloggers alike.”

Created by the gorgeous and kind Patricia Donaghy , this site, which was launched in January 2008, has already more than 750 members from all over the world.

Here is the link to Edubloggers: http://edubloggerdir.blogspot.com/

Tunisian Teachers' blogs:

2009-07-01T03:55:00.001+01:00

You can visit this blog here for tips and lessons. Link:http://virtualstaffroom.blogspot.com/

Here is another blog by a Tunisian teacher. Nice content.

Link:http://teachingenglish-alexenoamen.blogspot.com

Technorati Tags: blog,blogger,tunisian,teacher,tips,lesson,student,english,classroom

yappr : awesome video resources!

2009-07-01T01:40:00.001+01:00

If you are looking for great videos that are relevant to your students, yappr is the place to go. Hold on a second! Have you ever wondered whether anyone or any place would bother to add a transcript along with a video? Well, yappr does! The subjects range from interviews with celebrities to social, ecological issues, extracts from films and the list goes on and on…

Here is the link :http://en.yappr.com/

Make sure you click on the Watch the guided Tour link. It helps you get the most of your experience there.

DimDim, the best web conferencing tool for teachers

2009-07-01T01:06:00.001+01:00

We are going to talk about this web application soon in a coming issue of our magazine with more detail. But, you can visit this website and have a look at this revolutionary and state-of-the-art tool for teachers. You can deliver presentations, webinars and lessons to your students using your webcam or just by showing slideshows and documents from your own desktop! You can also schedule meetings and get your audience to register online through well-designed and user-friendly widgets. And a lot more on http://www.dimdim.com/

The first issue of our magazine is coming shortly!

2009-06-30T22:07:00.001+01:00

The first issue is taking shape and will be available for download soon!

We are very excited about it!

Here is a snapshot of the cover and the first page.

Welcome To The Tunisian English Teaching Forum

2009-06-30T20:58:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone,
We are glad to announce that our magazine "The Tunisian English Teaching Forum" is going to be available for teachers both in Tunisia and abroad very soon!
We will send links to the online versions of our mag here for you to download.
We will also add guidelines for writing articles on our blog and magazine here shortly. So, if you are interested in seeing your ideas and experience shared by others either here or in our magazine, you are welcome to send them to us.
Our magazine will include not only articles from veteran and novice teachers, inspectors and educators but also great tips, book reviews and online references.
Have a nice stay!

Tunisian English Teaching Forum

The 6th issue of Tunisian ELT Forum is online!

Sidi Bouzid celebrating the first International Festival of Freedom and Dignity

The Sixth Issue of The Tunisian ELT Forum Magazine: Call for articles

Rhyme-on-time! : The First Classroom Activity Book of ColloTunes for English Learning

Activa Idioma: Prospectiv​e job offer for English as a Foreign Language teachers in Tunisia

Launching the ELTons 2012

Happy World Teachers' Day!

Go Ahead Teacher! Students are Eager!

1-GET-TO-KNOW Each Other Interview:

2-Two Truths and A Lie:

3-Dates and Events activity:

4-Find Someone Who:

5-A Two- Minute Mixer:

6-If you had A Magic Wand:

7-Three Words:

Conclusion:

Useful links:

The fifth issue of The Tunisian English Language Teaching Forum

Volunteer translating fom English to Arabic

A New Call For Articles

The Fifth issue of the magazine: call for articles

An Educational CD by Karima Boussaid

Calling all teachers, the Guardian Weekly

New in this forum: the new books section

The difficulties of language processing facing intermediate Tunisian learners of English in a CLT classroom

The fourth issue of the The Tunisian English Teaching Forum

The website of the month: New Brunswick

Fun Ways for Foreign Students to Learn English

Best wishes for the new school year!

Stream, a magazine by the students

A play about environmental issues by the pupils in Abou Baker El Gammoudi prep school

Review Handouts by Mr. Dhahri

New Tests by Mr. Neji Ncibi

Classroom Management for Young Learners by Noamen Amara

The third issue of The Tunisian ELT Forum

Online resources for 4th Year Students

Article submissions for the May issue

A wiki about Web 2.0 resources for teachers

Assessing Speaking

Integrating ICT in ELT, a workshop organised by the British Council

A new selection of tests

The Tunisian English Language Teaching Forum, issue2

Short Story competition for 12-18 year olds in Tunisa

Workshop: Teaching Critical Reading

The Test Sampler IN ITS ENTIRETY!

New in the testing system

Happy Eid!

Test Sampler : Exclusively on the Tunisian ELT Forum!

Waiting for your articles!

Sample tests By Rihab Bouden

British English Versus American English by ELT Inspector, Mohamed Salah ABIDI

Workshops: Lesson Planning

New in the forum: The "Test Bank" Section

The “Be careful” culture by Naoufel Zouidi

The first issue of our magazine is here!

Be your pupils’ friend by Naoufel Zouidi

The information meetings for the school year 2009/2010

"The snag with English in Tunisia" by Abdelmalek Hadji

A sample lesson plan using Bloom’s taxonomy by Hechmi Hamdi

Guidelines For Better Power Point Presentations

Ideas for the classroom: The Weekly Class Newsletter

Direct / Indirect Speech : PowerPoint Presentation

"Proverbs in Action" worksheet

CALL lab: Teachers' comments

Why Should We Raise The Issue Of Differentiating Instruction?

welcome

Formative Evaluation

On being eclectic

Useful resources for EFL teachers

A workshop on CALL and English language Teaching

News from Tunisia : A Workshop for EFL teachers about Formative Assessment held in Sidi Bouzid (July 2009)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Guidelines for writing articles

Teachers TV : the TV channel for teachers

Check these two great sites for free resources for students and educators

Our blog is now registered with the Edubloggers Directory!

Tunisian Teachers' blogs:

yappr : awesome video resources!

DimDim, the best web conferencing tool for teachers

Activa Idioma: Prospective job offer for English as a Foreign Language teachers in Tunisia