The aim of this article is to argue for the relevance of critical visual literacy (CVL) in relation to intercultural learning in ELT and present a redesign task that has been implemented with secondary school EFL learners in Norway. CVL is an approach to reading images which acknowledges that all texts are constructed, rather than neutral, and…

This mixed-methods study explores the language-related difficulties and ELT support offered in English-medium programmes at eight universities in China. Data included a student questionnaire (n = 394) measuring the difficulties of 45 academic tasks, organized around the four skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Results revealed…

Michael Swan and Catherine Walter (see EJ1142765) take issue with the current emphasis in the teaching of listening and reading on higher-order skills-and-strategies training. They argue that L2 learners typically already possess the relevant skills and strategies necessary for listening and reading in L2, and, by implication, can and do deploy…

For many years, research effort has been devoted to understanding the nature of listening strategies and how listening strategies used by good listeners can be taught to so-called ineffective listeners. As a result of this line of research, strategy training activities have now become a standard feature of most modern listening coursebooks.…

This paper surveys some of the changes in teaching the four language skills in the past 15 years. It focuses on two main changes for each skill: understanding spoken language and willingness to communicate for speaking; product, process, and genre approaches and a focus on feedback for writing; extensive reading and literature for reading; and…

Too much thinking and research views learner autonomy in an instruction-centred way, with a focus on equipping the learner to function better in the classroom or learning centre. This article argues that true learner empowerment consists of the freedom to learn outside the teaching context and the ability to continue learning after instruction has…

Discusses techniques which may be used to develop skills of prediction and hypothesis-formation by English-as-a-foreign-language learners. Describes a computer exercise which invites learner to identify source of a piece of text from a randomly chosen fragment. Discusses the relationship between the language level of the learner and the selection…

A three-month extensive reading program in England, inspired by Krashen's Input Hypothesis, used graded readers to improve English as a second language learners' linguistic skills. Program results showed a marked improvement in the subjects' language skills, especially in writing. (Author/CB)

Analyzed a sample of English-as-a-Second-Language textbooks currently used in Spanish secondary schools and language schools to determine how well they reflected current theories on reading, particularly the interactive approach to reading. Overall, the coursebooks reflected current views on interactive reading, but they differed in number and…

An analytical approach for teaching foreign language reading to students includes: identifying and discussing the components of reading (communication, notional area, anticipation and retrospection, text, coherence, cohesion, information), contriving short problem-solving exercises, and systematically training pupils in the various operations at…

One English-as-a-Foreign-Language teacher describes how she encourages students to extend their reading skills by undertaking a range of tasks that lead to the production of a portfolio of work connected with a particular title. Provides an overview of the work carried out over a period of 3 years with seven groups of students at university and…

The approach taken to testing reading comprehension in a Bombay University English program is described. A distinction is drawn between communicative and communicational teaching approaches. Reading skills and the traditional techniques for teaching them are examined, and sample reading comprehension test items using the communicational approach…

Considers the benefits of extensive reading, examines some of the reasons for its failure to take off, describes two programs, and offers teachers some leading questions to help them develop their own programs. (three references) (Author/CK)

Explores issues arising from a research project which studied ways of meeting the reading needs of trainee primary school teachers (from Malawi and Tanzania) of English as a foreign language. Topics discussed include: the classroom teaching situation; teaching "quality"; and integration of materials and methods. (CB)

Describes the objectives, implementation methods, and classroom methods used by high school teachers of English participating in the Permantapan Kerja Guru (PKG): Strengthening of the Work of Teachers Project in Indonesia. The PKG is a teacher development program intended to help teachers develop their confidence and personal and professional…