Africa Online Homepage

English Language Education:
Using Web Resources to Develop Classroom Content-Based Materials

INFORMATION

This is an informational website for the course "English Language Teaching: Using Web Resources to Develop Content-Based Materials for the Classroom." More than 70 educators from over eleven countries across sub-Saharan Africa enrolled in this course Fall 2001. The course was organized by USIS Regional English Language Officer George Scholz and was conducted through the American English Institute at the University of Oregon in conjunction with two sponsors:
• the U.S. Department of State Public Diplomacy, Office of English Language Programs in Washington D.C.
• the Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.

"English Language Teaching: Using Web Resources to Develop Content-Based Materials for the Classroom" emphasized the applied use of web-based resources and content-based instructional practices in English language teaching environments. Participants developed practical, print-based materials using resources from content-rich websites.

Materials and resources used in this course were selected based on a combination of individuals' and program needs. A survey of participants' interests and needs was conducted at the start of the course. Resources were selected on the basis of how well they were aligned with participants' needs, their pedagogical appropriateness from a teaching and learning perspective, the extent to which they met accessibility and usability standards* , and were available at no cost or copyright infringement through the Internet (the Web and/or email).

The goals of this course were to:

• Learn how to use web sites for finding resources to support English language teaching and learning.
• Collaborate with language teaching colleagues around Africa with similar pedagogical interests.
• Practice adapting and creating culturally and pedagogically appropriate content-based English materials
• Develop understanding in the content areas of Entrepreneurship, Civic Education, and HIV Education and how they might be incorporated into English language teaching.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS COURSE, PLEASE VISIT THE WEB PAGES:

• Course Overview

• Syllabus and Handouts

• Participants' Photos

• Participants' Completed Work

• Information on Guest Speakers

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INSTRUCTORS

Leslie Opp-Beckman, Technology Coordinator and Instructor
Email: leslieob@oregon.uoregon.edu

Peggy Dame, Special Programs Coordinator and Instructor
Email: pdame@oregon.uoregon.edu

Mailing Address and International Phone Numbers
American English Institute
5212 University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403-5212 U.S.A.
Office Phone: 541-346-3945
Office FAX: 541-346-3917

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This project gratefully acknowledges the materials produced by Marion Smallbones, an Independent Language Education Consultant in Capetown, South Africa.

AEI Affiliations and Accreditation:
The American English Institute (AEI) at the University of Oregon is an active member in good standing with The American Association of Intensive English Programs (AAIEP) and The Consortium of University and College Intensive English Programs (UCIEP). AEI is also fully accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) and agrees to uphold the CEA Standards for English Language Programs.

AEI Mission Statement:
"It is the mission of the AEI to enhance individual growth and global understanding in the international community through English language and intercultural learning, teaching, and research opportunities. The AEI strives to be recognized internationally for its high quality programs, contributions to the field of English language teaching, and the educational experiences it provides to students and faculty."

Privacy Statement from University of Oregon's American English Institute. Participants are also advised that registration information may be shared with the course sponsors: the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs office in Pretoria and/or the Public Affairs post in your country.

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* For more information on accessibility and usability guidelines, see: W3C's Web Accesibility Initiative (WAI), Jakob Neilsen's research on Usability, and University of Oregon's Designing Web Pages for People with Disabilities.

American English Institute
5212 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-5212 USA

FAX: 541-346-3917
Office: 541-346-3945