Some causes of difficulty experienced by Chinese learners of English as a Second Language (ESL) in attaining communicative competence in the target language include lack of appropriate teacher strategies; teachers' limited English language proficiency; neglect of education in the target culture; lack of communicative activities; students'…

It is argued that folklore can and should have a primary place in curriculum for English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL). Folklore has the following advantages--it: is a form of literature in which language, arts, and culture intersect; fosters understanding and acceptance of the foreign language and culture; can…

A booklet intended for classroom use in beginning and intermediate German instruction provides students with a series of authentic McDonald's fast food restaurant placemats with which to review and reinforce adjective endings. Specific objectives are for students to: read and discuss each of the German McDonald's trayliners, complete a series of…

Students in an academically supported program of English as a second language (ESL) serving permanent residents and refugees at a large urban state university were surveyed concerning their language use patterns and educational needs for language instruction. The respondents were predominantly Southeast Asians representing siginificant minority…

Uses of slides in the French language classroom for vocabulary development, enhancement of listening comprehension, stimulation of speech, and grammar review are discussed. (MSE)

Drama can act as a bridge between the classroom and the real world in teaching students to communicate in a second language. Teaching techniques using drama to help improve students' pronunciation of English as a second language are described, as they relate to articulation, pitch, volume, rate, and variety. (CB)

Describes an English as a second language course designed to build the students' reading abilities in order to develop their oral and writing skills. The course consists of group and individual projects on the topic of American Indians and culminates with a simulation of a court hearing involving an Indian land claim. (SED)

Many teachers hesitate to integrate film into English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classrooms because of the uncertainty of the educational efficacy of viewing an entire film in class and the motivational value of the repeated use of short film clips. However, both short film clips and longer films can be used in class to motivate ESL students and…

Emphasizes that teachers of adult second language learners who are used to developing concepts in a subject area alone must adjust their teaching to include the development of language, culture, and prior experience differences. Presents activities using the newspaper to teach vocabulary, pronouns, possessive pronouns, and noun plurals. (RS)

Second-language teachers are encouraged to develop two forms of reading, silent and oral, in classroom instruction. The relationship between the two is discussed, and aspects of oral communication that teachers can explore (voice, multiplicity of voices, movement and gesture, use of props, and spatial use) are examined. (MSE)

The assessment packet presented is a draft of a test designed for use with beginning level students of a second/foreign language in the Columbus (Ohio) public schools. It focuses on speaking skills and attempts to test only what students can be expected to say, realistically. The packet consists of: nine mini-tests for use at regular intervals…

An oral activity designed to help prepare college students of English as a second language for assignments and rhetorical strategies for essay writing is described. The activity, which comprises several tasks and can require up to two class periods, requires students to compare and contrast a painting and a poem that have a common theme or aspect.…

One business French teacher's technique for incorporating both authentic materials and oral skill development into the course curriculum is to have students read current French magazine articles and summarize them orally for the class. Students must select articles on recent business developments in France, or the United States when related to…

This paper provides activities and suggestions for foreign language teachers to use to enhance their students' self-esteem. Teachers should: (1) have students speak, write, and read the target language on the first day of class; (2) help students overcome test anxiety by focusing on what they did right, experimenting with different testing…

This paper describes a paraphrasing activity devised to assist English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) graduate students at Ohio State University develop their academic writing skills. The activity is based on the community language learning approach. The students in the class were divided into groups of three, with each group member in turn assigned…