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BBC Learning English- http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/

 The BBC has a Learning English website that is an incredible resource, not

 just to refer students to but to get ideas for things to do. My favourite part of

this site as it relates to fostering community in the E!L classroom is the

"#our tories$ section, and % would use this as an e&ample to share with

students that would then lead to them sharing their stories with the class.

'ltimately % would li(e to have a student share their story on a wee(ly basis.

 

Pinterest – www.pinterest.com

)interest is a great resource for ideas related to building community in yourclassroom *as well as a multitude of other things related to E!L teaching

and otherwise+. %t is a website application that basically stores *or "pins$+

lin(s, images and articles according to each users classi-cation system. #ou

can search the entire database of pins and will -nd a wealth of material. %

have a pinterest board myself called TE!L where % have some resources

about Community Building in the classroom pinned. *isha )anchal on

)interest+.

 

City of oronto !"isiting oronto# website

 The City of Toronto website *or the city within which you are teaching+ would

be a great resource for fostering community for many reasons/

%t contains information about what is going on in the City that you can get

your class involved in.

%t contains maps and information about speci-c neighbourhoods 0 studentscan share information about the area they live in, the things they do in their

areas.

1estivals and Events calendar 0 show students how much diversity there is in

the City that is celebrated 0 use it as a starting point for celebrations that can

be shared in the E!L classroom

 

C$EL$ – Centre for $%ult English Language $c&uisition - 'esources

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/http://www.pinterest.com/http://www.pinterest.com/http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/

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http/22www.cal.org2caela2esl3resources2

4 '5based Centre that has a wide variety of current resources, speci-cally

resources about "Bringing EL to Life$. eems to be regularly updated with

tip sheets and activities.

 

(peci)c acti"ities:

6rawing from the %TBE article, % am grouping my activity ideas under three

main categories/ past, present, and future.

Past:

Map of the world 0 each student mar( what part of the world they came from

4ctivities that allow students to show where they came from *language,

culture+

Culture hoc( 0 students share the things that surprised them when they -rst

came to Canada

Present:

7ave a monthly calendar where the students share their cultural

celebrations, special days and important milestones *such as birthdays,

anniversaries+

"Classroom Craigslist$ whereby students can engage in swaps, buy5n5sell,

and even bartering so that they can ac8uire the things *or services+ they

need from others who may not need them

ports 0 each student shares the sport that is popular in their home country.

1ind opportunities to engage in or be spectators at those sports in some form

here *school leagues, etc+. 6ecide on a Toronto team to follow as a class 0

learn about the sport, spend a few minutes each class tal(ing about the most

recent game, go to a game or watch a game together.

Future:

4ctivities that allow students to share their goals in the short and long term

"!ne thing that % worry about is9$

http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/http://www.cal.org/caela/esl_resources/

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 Things that they want for their children *or future children+.

:. http/22letcteachers.wordpress.com2;