Too many teachers have misguided ideas about the principles of the oral approach to teaching EFL. They are either too sure of themselves and of the theory and become complacent, or their confidence is shaken by the failure of a technique they thought to be infallible. (SCC)

Group work in language classrooms has the advantages of involving a more natural type of language and letting each student participate more. Effectiveness of this method is not certain, however. Questions of size and composition of groups and types of group activities are discussed. (CHK)

A technique is outlined which simultaneously checks students' aural and oral control of sounds and prosodies. Intended for intermediate and advanced students, the test consists of a number of minimal pairs which are read by different people while the others listen and note which of the alternatives they hear. (SW)

Use of classroom improvisations and role-playing can help the second language learner speak quickly, naturally, and spontaneously. The technique is discussed and illustrated. (CHK)

A discussion is presented that shows that, in teaching reading in a foreign language, the aims, procedures, and techniques can be virtually the same as those once used for the acquisition of reading skills in the mother tongue. (Author/HP)

A step-by-step description is presented of how the teacher of English as a foreign language can add a question-and-answer period to the oral report. The technique allows for the participation of all students and brings the exercise closer to real conversation. (SW)