THE STUDY CONCERNED TRACING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY IN THE SAME GROUP OF SUBJECTS FROM KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 9. THE RESEARCH WAS BASED ON A STUDY OF THE PATTERNS AND BEHAVIOR OF THE SUBJECTS' SPEECH AND WRITING AND THEIR COMPETENCE IN READING AND LISTENING. SUCH INFORMATION IS USEFUL IN CURRICULUM PLANNING AND IN DEVELOPING…

This guide is a collection of practical ideas for teaching listening skills to learners of a second language. Most are contributed by teachers of English as a Second Language, but the activities may be appropriate for other languages. Each idea is described briefly, with information given about appropriate proficiency level(s), specific aims,…

This book provides an overview of research and thinking on age-related dimensions of language acquisition, intended for students, researchers, and educators with some experience in linguistics and applied linguistics. The first chapter introduces the variety of issues associated with age and language acquisition. Chapter 2 examines the evidence…

A Hong Kong college instructor in English for academic purposes (EAP) describes the process of revising an instructional module designed for students involved in the building trades. The three-step curriculum development process included (1) personal reflection and solicitation of student perceptions; (2) need analysis and development of a new…

This paper briefly outlines the theory and development of Values Clarification and explores its possible applications to English as a foreign language (EFL). The five basic types of Values Clarification exercises are discussed: (1) interviewing, (2) rank-ordering, (3) forced choice, (4) values continuum, and (5) sentence completion. The theory and…

This introductory text is designed to prepare teachers of English as a Second Language to teach speech skills. The first three chapters explore general issues in relation to spoken language and speech instruction. The first chapter examines the nature of spoken language, and why and how we learn our native language. The second focuses on…

It is argued that slowed-down speech is a useful tool for teaching both listening comprehension and pronunciation to students of English as a second language. For listening comprehension, introduction of more, and longer pauses at grammatical boundaries allows more time for processing speech. The greater number of accented words and shorter…

A study investigated Japanese college students' perceptions and assessments of their college English classes, and to what factors they attribute difficulty in acquiring oral English. Subjects were 189 students from a junior college and a university, in first- through third-year English conversation classes. Most were English majors required to…

The report and review of literature discusses instructional and assessment practices associated with limited-English-proficient (LEP) adults, and recommends that literacy providers use alternative forms of instruction and assessment for this population that are based on: (1) an explicit emphasis on writing; (2) use of the learner's own cultural…

A study examined the oral language skills needed in a second language to communicate effectively with native speakers. The first part of the study is an analysis of the concept of oral intercultural communication proficiency, particularly as an objective of language instruction. The second part of the study consisted of a survey of native speakers…

Basic skills instruction can be tied to work performed on the job by conducting a Workplace Educational Skills Analysis (WESA). WESA is a systematic process used by the Wisconsin Workplace Partnership Training Program to identify and analyze the basic educational skills required on the job. Basic skills are identified in seven areas: (1)…

This handbook provides guidelines and practical ideas for community volunteer teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) as they prepare to teach. It addresses common classroom issues and offers instructional approaches and techniques based on established principles of language learning. Chapter topics include the following: cross-cultural…

A course in English as a second language (ESL) offered at Golden West College located in Orange County, California is designed to help students from many ethnic backgrounds develop speaking and listening skills for success in school, social situations, and work. Students must be at the intermediate ESL level. Each unit of study consists of…

A discussion of the nature and scope of basic skills training introduces a series of recommendations for the improved effectiveness of this training based on a survey of California community colleges. The first sections of this report discuss issues of community college responsibility for basic skills training, its priority as an institutional…

Based on the questions of second language teachers concerning classroom practice, generated by survey, research on aspects of second language teaching and learning was reviewed and is summarized here. In each case, a question or questions are posed and a brief discussion follows, in layman's language and based on relevant research, with a brief…