Classroom activities and materials for developing Spanish language skills are described. The exercises focus on listening comprehension, speaking, word recognition, vocabulary learning through reading, and grammar skills that prepare students for the National Spanish Examination and other language experiences. (Author/MSE)

The difficulties encountered by students with hearing loss and special learning needs are often attributed exclusively to hearing loss, particularly when there are no other obvious physical or sensory handicaps. A Louisiana public school system has addressed this issue for the past 9 years and has included both regular and special education…

This study examined three groups of postsecondary students using the "Learning Disabilities Diagnostic Inventory" (LDDI). Reasoning scale to determine if there were significant differences in their self-reported reasoning behaviors. The results indicated that none of the students self-reported a "Likely" intrinsic processing deficit. However, some…

Intended for use in Florida training programs for caregivers of infants and toddlers with disabilities, this guide presents an overview of the Model of Interdisciplinary Training for Children with Handicaps (MITCH); provides a user's guide to the series; and presents specific information for presenting Module 2, which focuses on speech and…

In an effort to improve the writing performance of non-native English-speaking students in a college preparatory composition course, a project was undertaken to reduce problems of self-esteem caused by communication apprehension through a speech assignment involving critical thinking and peer reviews. To evaluate the effect of the assignment, the…

An adult basic education (ABE) class was developed to help parolees of the Schuylkill County Prison develop reading, writing, and communication skills and use those skills in a community service project aimed at helping at-risk youth. Parolees were recruited into the project through county parole officers, and their reading, writing, self-esteem,…

This guide provides descriptions of standards for assessing students' skills in French as a second language, accompanied by samples of student work in the four language skills (listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing, and speaking) at each of nine competency levels. An introductory section discusses basic principles in reporting…

Previous literature on classroom testing of second language speech skills provides several models of both task types and rubrics for rating, and suggestions regarding procedures for testing speaking with large numbers of learners. However, there is no clear, widely disseminated consensus in the profession on the appropriate paradigm to guide the…

Based on a review of 335 research studies conducted in 1972-1987, the effectiveness of various methods, approaches, and techniques for teaching English as a Second Language in Thailand is analyzed. The information is presented in three sections: methods that worked; methods that did not work; and methods that appeared to work. In each section, the…

A practicum project to develop instructional materials and related class activities for students of English as a second language (ESL) is described. The context in which the project took place is the ESL instruction of Japanese students with minimal English skills and low motivation in an American community college in Japan. The materials consist…

This coursebook provides materials for a course to teach supervisors to communicate more effectively. The course is designed to be delivered in six sessions over a 3-week period. Stated course objectives for the participant are as follows: feel more comfortable with supervisory communication; understand language as a means of action and change;…

The seventh in a series providing yearly reviews and syntheses of developments in the field of communication, this volume contains disciplinary reviews and commentaries on topics of general interest to scholars and researchers and discussions of current research in a variety of areas. The 40 articles in the volume are arranged according to the…

Two college faculty members have developed two speech communication courses specifically designed to increase the communication skills and self-confidence of non-native speakers of English. One course teaches pronunciation skills, including stress, rhythm, and intonation. The second focuses on speaking and listening skills for getting acquainted,…

The assessment reported in this paper represents the first attempt by British Columbia to use the Canadian Ministry of Education's assessment program model with special programs; in this case, the French immersion program was chosen. Objectives of the assessment were as follows: (1) examination of the extent to which students are achieving…

Contributed by English teachers across the United States, the activities contained in this booklet are intended to promote the effective teaching of English and the language arts. Teaching strategies offered in the first section of the booklet are designed to stimulate language exploration with such activities as designing and carrying out…