Describes conversational language course of exercises designed to single out mistakes students kept making in language lab and concentrate on exercises to correct them to enrich English with more complex structures not used by students spontaneously. Method can be used to proceed from closed to open conversation exercises. (Author/BK)

Describes attempt to give English-as-a-second-language students the opportunity to practice their English in a relaxed but productive way. Gives example of a conversational leaflet developed to guide conversation. (Author/BK)

Issues regarding the development of student's speaking skills and English as a second language (ESL) techniques designed to improve the teaching of conversation are described. Ten true and false assumptions about the teaching of conversation are considered: (1) everyone enjoys talking and participating in class discussion; (2) discussion topics in…

Memorization and recitation of dialogues are an important part of English as a second language (ESL) courses. However, if the goal of using dialogues is to promote free conversation, the practice of reciting dialogues must entail more than the rote memorization of another's thoughts. Therefore, the talk-and-listen method is a good technique for…

This approach utilizes a communications model, individual and group problem-solving activities and class discussion for mastering communication skills. Understanding communications principles and feeling secure in the classroom are essential. Students also deliver short informative and demonstration talks to prepare them for content area class…

This paper describes a formal communication game which requires the students to process other players' utterances for implicit meaning before responding. The game can be adapted for content and difficulty level. Students choose between two alternatives on dimensions such as structure and style. Sample games are included. (SW)

Discusses the use of cooperative experiential learning as a method to help non-English speakers improve their English communication skills. Cites such factors as the necessity for cooperation and communication among students, the motivational character of natural conversation, and the "mainstreaming" of the limited English speaker. (PGD)

Adult basic education and English as a second language teachers, as well as volunteer tutors, can help new refugees acquire functional English through the use of a survival kit. The Literacy Volunteers of America's guide to teaching conversational English recommends these items for a survival kit: a written copy of student's name, address, and…

This collection of resource sheets is intended for use by teachers and tutors who work with adult beginning readers and persons learning conversational English; more specifically, it is for use with learners at the beginning levels of the sequential reading series Read On! II, consisting of six textbooks, six workbooks, and an instructor's guide.…

Finds that motivation in the conversation course is fostered by careful selection of discussion material, narrow in scope and interesting to students rather than to teachers. Games, songs and experiments are desirable. Error correction is discussed, particularly of "Germanisms". It is suggested that sociolinguistics can contribute to motivation.…

A description of the use of flowcharts in teaching students of English as a second language (ESL) to "map" dialogue for conversation begins with a review of the literature concerning the flowchart form and content. Conversational form and logic and the discourse chart designed by Mohr and adapted for this study are discussed. The classroom…

A study investigated the effectiveness of a Salem-Teikyo University (West Virginia) program of English-as-a-Second-Language conversational tutoring for a cohort of 185 Japanese students and a similar but smaller Japanese-as-a-Second-Language tutoring program for the English-speaking cohort. Data were gathered through surveys of faculty (n=4),…

Recommends instituting conversation workshops to help English-as-a-Second-Language students acquire language competence and factual and cultural knowledge. Reviews Hunter College's workshop program whereby students work with peer tutors in a writing lab discussing various informal and academic topics or the information covered in specific content…

The ways in which second language learners and teachers together can develop learners' ability to carry on conversation in the target language are examined. The discussion is based on the idea that practicing language skills, therefore creating opportunities to gain additional knowledge, is essential to continued learning, whereas using such…

This guide is intended for use by teachers and tutors who are using the assisted reading method to teach reading to adult learners. The introduction describes the contents of the guide and the other materials in the Read On! II series, i.e., six textbooks, six workbooks, and a set of tutor resource sheets for use with learners at the beginning…