A class activity for young adult students of English as a second language uses simplified versions of Shakespeare's familiar dramatic plots to promote student participation and use of second language skills. The students are provided with a list of characters, a synopsis of the story, a room with floor space, and a time frame in which to recreate…

Instructional materials designed to be used with the feature films "Old Yeller" and "The Miracle Worker" in classes of English as a second language include, for each film, general notes on film presentation, a teacher's synopsis of the film divided into segments, a student viewing guide and vocabulary preview for each segment,…

"Sounds of Language" is a background course to provide elementary and secondary school students with a greater understanding of how language works. The course is designed to (1) introduce students to the variations of sounds and structure of many foreign languages, (2) teach study habits that are vital to successful foreign language learning, and…

Three activities for developing speaking skills of advanced English as second language students are presented. Impromptu speaking, extemporaneous speaking, and debate activities are designed to train students to organize concepts, develop spontaneous oral skills, and enhance confidence and clarity of thought. Impromptu speaking develops…

This paper presents research on the contribution of the amount of schooling to performance in French as a second language, assessed by newly developed measures of communicative competence. Test items addressed three components of communicative competence: grammatical, sociolinguistic, and strategic. Aware of the relationship of context to…

Provides an inventory of traditional techniques used in the teaching of pronunciation of English as a second language. Most of the techniques are production-oriented, for their purpose is to improve production of spoken English. (CB)

Considers several challenges evolving in the field of foreign language instruction, including unity of foreign language teachers, teaching objectives, the importance of listening comprehension, compulsory foreign language education, language tests, speech skills, and curriculum. (CB)

Outlines methods by which dialogs are produced in a program which teaches foreign languages to local British industries. Recommends that such dialogs on specialized topics be short and simple. Also discusses how role play and materials such as graphs, charts, forms, and diagrams can be used as language teaching material. (SED)

This document is an outline of a conference presentation on developing and implementing authentic oral assessment instruments. Among the topics covered are the following: alternative, authentic, direct, descriptive, portfolio, and performance assessments. A detailed comparison and contrasting is undertaken of alternative and performance…

Outlines issues in the teaching of discourse organization to learners of English as a Second Language (ESL). Describes such discourse features as turn-taking, turn-allocation, transaction, exchanges, repair strategies, topic selection and change, and error correction, and suggests classroom techniques and activities for teaching them. (MSE)

Teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) are responsible not only for teaching students about the rules of language, but also for encouraging the understanding of and empathy for those who are native and non-native speakers of the target language. Where there is cultural diversity, there is often intolerance, and Taiwan is no exception. A…

A method of teaching public speaking adapted from the Toastmasters International program is presented for use in foreign language classes. Instructions need only to be translated into the target language and presented to students for immediate classroom use. The instructions address the structure of the speech class, writing and delivering the…

This book is designed to provide supplemental instructional materials for the "Adult Education Guide to ESL (English as a Second Language) Curriculum." Each unit covers several communications objectives outlined in the "Guide." The materials are intended for use along with both teacher-made and commercial materials. Materials are provided for two…

Discusses the development of a communicative language testing unit for grade nine French immersion students. The interlocking of teaching and testing is suggested, by preparing a potential testing unit for every communicative, theme-oriented curriculum teaching unit, thus aiming toward goals compatible with both teacher and student. (SL)

The focus of second language education is communication, and oral language is central to the teaching of foreign language at all levels. Oral language in the foreign language classroom is the most problematic of all skills to assess. Teachers' concerns can be divided in the following areas: (1) What to assess: form or content; (2) How to assess:…