Critical pedagogy in ELT mainly aims to encourage learners to address current sociopolitical issues and speak up for change. Thus, encountering a real-world issue might aid in deconstructing a given order of discourse found in the textbooks and gaining a more realistic perspective. This reflective study was conducted at a Turkish university and is…

To contribute to existing research that describes how L2 speakers avoid misunderstanding during conversation, the current study examines the strategies used by university students in Canada. The students (N = 104) were audio-recorded while carrying out two communicative tasks in pairs: exchanging personal experiences about moving to Canada, 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…

In 2013/2014, I conducted two consecutive cycles of exploratory action research aimed at improving the quality of my French engineering students' oral presentations in English. Each cycle involved a different group of students. I collaborated with the students extensively throughout the project and found that the experience was highly beneficial…

This is a summary and non-specialist account by one member of a small team involved in the development of an English language test, following the reorganization of that part of the Department of Education in Ireland which deals with the ELT sector. The article describes why and how the test was developed, the theoretical background, the structure…

A description of five features of speaking activities for language teaching (roles, outcomes, procedure, split information, and challenges) precedes the claim that teachers who understand these features can improve the speaking activities they employ and create their own activities according to individual features or combinations of features.…

Describes an algorithm that can be used for the construction of an oral presentation. The article suggests how nonnative English-speaking students can be taught to make their presentations more cohesive and to evaluate their cohesiveness with the help of video recordings. (21 references) (Author/CK)

The validity of written cloze tests for measuring oral skills was evaluated by comparing cloze test scores with recorded interviews. It was concluded that the tests may be a good indirect measure of oral ability. The advantages of these tests include ease of construction, administration, and scoring. (MSE)

A survey-interview exercise is described as it evolved through English-as-a-second-language students' efforts to develop better spoken language skills. The exercise provided students with experience in using spoken English in interaction, learning first-hand about local ideas and attitudes, and reflecting on and discussing the experience in the…

A checklist of criteria for determining a text's appropriateness is provided. Suggestions assume four needs: current methodology, guidance for nonnative teachers, students' special needs, and relevance to the sociocultural environment of instruction. Criteria cover general considerations, speech, grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, and…

Many foreign engineering undergraduates already have adequate English skills for the technical part of their academic and professional purposes, but still have problems with communication and interactive skills. Conventional ESP courses may not meet their needs, so an alternate program is proposed. (Author/LMO)