Coaching is the central activity in the "game" of teaching, and it is an activity that can have a lifetime effect on language learners. This book presents a "coaching approach" to instruction in written language--an approach that is eclectic, pragmatic, synthetic. The approach in the book centers on finding balance--ways of…

Common problems encountered in teaching Chinese that involve classical, intentional malapropisms (learned errors) are discussed. Three aspects unique to Chinese are addressed: (1) since Chinese writing is logographic, some malapropisms occur because of similar graphs; (2) since many expressions come from classical Chinese, and instruction in…

Surveys recent trends in the area of clear writing. Discusses the problem of incomprehensible language in functional writing (forms and documents). Considers solutions, particularly those developed by the Document Design Center. (PD)

As a result of difficulty in applying linguistic theory to teaching remedial writing to college students, a technique was developed that uses comparisons of spoken and written English to assist in composition and revision. Specific techniques and examples are outlined. (MSE)

Examines American Sign Language (ASL) in the context of the orality/literacy debate and issues of language and cognition. Posits that ASL is a natural language independent of English, and asserts that examining other modes of language use can illuminate the nature of discourse in both oral and written forms. (MM)

Describes a classroom activity that emphasizes syntactic fluency and the richness of linguistic resources available in written language, while downplaying the "dos and don'ts" of traditional punctuation instruction. (RL)

Suggests small group techniques that maximize classroom opportunities for student activity, and describes some oral and written tasks that have proved highly effective. Explains how group dynamics can offer support to students and help them break down some of their inhibitions about speaking a foreign language. (MES)

Aimed at classroom teachers, researchers, staff developers, and policymakers, this bibliography of approximately 375 items is intended as a resource for the development of curricula that explicitly employ oral and written language to support learning across the curriculum. The journal articles, theses, and books in the annotated bibliography were…

The four issues of this journal, written entirely in Spanish, are intended for reading teachers. The first issue focuses on the role of school in the development of readers and writers and contains articles discussing the results of an investigation into the validity of the idea of "level" when measuring students' comprehension of…

The age of print is seen as nearly over and the age of electronic communication begun. The new technology, it is suggested, will put the simpler aspects of education in the home, and in doing so it may leave the classroom behind. (MLW)

Twenty-two junior-year college students were tested at a college language, speech and hearing clinic. A statistical analysis was performed on their scores on the Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery and on oral and written language samples. Results were compared with those of a group of 25 normal college students in their junior year.…

Spoken and written transmission in learning English as a second language is discussed at the levels of pronunciation and spelling, with reference to the East African learner. Fundamental physical differences between communication in speech and writing that impose different constraints upon the receiver are addressed. (SW)

Illustrates the astonishing coordination of archaeological and scholarly activities surrounding the Dead Sea Scrolls. First discovered by Bedouin nomads in 1947, the Scrolls consist of a few complete manuscripts and over 80,000 fragments. Discusses the early Christian sect that produced the Scrolls, and provides current perspectives on the…

The following error made by Sudanese students in their written English is discussed: giving the direct translation of relative pronoun plus personal pronoun from the Arabic pattern instead of the relative pronoun. The structure of the relative clause in English and Arabic is also compared. (SW)

Language learning is complex and mysterious--because of the many diverse factors that affect its development and because of the many unanswered questions about its nature. Even so, the efforts of countless researchers have provided sufficient knowledge to prompt some recommendations about how adults may nurture the language and literacy…