This study was aimed at revealing pedagogical practices of experienced vocational English language teachers, focusing on their lesson planning as well as teaching and classroom management practices, and to understand why they act the way they do. Data were collected through interviews with 5 selected experienced vocational English language…

This study explores how elementary teachers perceive and use "engaging oral strategies" (i.e., manners of speaking that encourage students to participate and become engaged in science discussions). It is reported that the strategies employed as well as their frequency varied substantially depending upon on the teachers' grade level and…

This article explores the design and implementation of critical action research undertaken to encourage equal classroom participation. Building on a body of literature on critical action research and oral participation, the author reports her research project undertaken in a multi-lingual and multi-ethnic class in Japan to examine practices of how…

This article discusses the history and benefits of debating as an educational technique, then discusses a five-year study of the use of student debates in a senior-level college marketing course. Students reported that debates both enhanced their learning and improved their speaking skills. (MDM)

Examined the beliefs and practices of special education, credentialed bilingual, and bilingual-waivered teachers of Latino language-minority students. Found that no group supported a single view of literacy instruction or assessment. Differences between groups (primarily bilingual and special education teachers) were evident in beliefs about…

A study to determine the role of oral language and reading skills in the transfer from two years of reading in Spanish to reading in English had as subjects 191 fourth grade students in a bilingual education program. Students were tested and classified as efficient and non-efficient readers. It was found that: (1) there is a relationship between…

A study investigated the effect of dialogue journal writing on English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) students' speaking skills. Subjects were 136 students enrolled in a history program at an Egyptian university, divided randomly into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received training in dialogue journal writing in addition to…

This eight-volume final report of a federally-funded longitudinal study on the teaching of reading to bilingual children provides information on and insight into characteristics of a favorable learning environment for Spanish-speaking children, instructional sequences and events that promote successful and efficient learning of literacy skills,…

Discourse analysis has provided a methodology for the study of conversational interactions between language learner and native speaker. This study examines the verbal and nonverbal strategies that native speakers use when communicating with second language learners in natural, non-academic, "survival type" settings. The areas discussed include:…

A study investigated how students of English as a second language (ESL) improved their use of learning strategies through awareness-raising in group interviews and informal training. Subjects were 68 Taiwanese university students in two freshman English classes. Subjects responded to an English learning strategy questionnaire in the beginning and…