Although researchers and practitioners have discussed the concept of Global Englishes (GE), the degree of GE's influence in the practical use of English is much wider and deeper in the real world than in the field of education. Mainstream ELT practices tend to adhere to native and fixed norms, which are regarded as the central problems in ELT from…

The increasing use of digital educational technologies in higher education (HE) means that the nature of communication may be shifting. Assessments of English for academic purposes (EAP) need to be reconceptualized accordingly to reflect the new and complex ways in which language is used in HE. With a view to inform EAP assessments, our study set…

Songs have been a common feature of young learner classrooms for decades, and numerous publications describe how songs should be employed in order to improve motivation and facilitate the acquisition of various aspects of language, including vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and listening skills. However, empirical research examining the effects…

Presents examples from spoken and written discourse to illustrate how speakers and writers report what was said using forms and structures that receive no coverage in textbooks available to English language learners. It is argued that the exercises typically presented in such textbooks provide little preparation for the interpretation of many…

In the field of English as a foreign language teaching, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of lexical collocations for vocabulary learning. An obstacle to teaching these is their number. It is argued that this enormous teaching and learning load can be reduced by a contrastive approach to the concept of lexical collocation. (36…

This article explores how effective peer reviews, where students read drafts of their fellow students' essays and make suggestions for revisions, are for English-as-a-Second-Language composition students. Suggestions for organizing effective peer review sessions are provided. (four references) (JL)

This article is concerned with classroom related reasons for dropping-out from the adult English-as-a-Second-Language classroom. It presents a novel method of discovering how adult students from various cultural backgrounds perceive language learning events. (18 references) (JL)

The relationship between language learning and cross-cultural awareness is of increasing interest, particularly in the wider European context. Aspects of the relationship are considered and exercises to assist in defining the components of cultural awareness and the notion of the cultural group are offered. (one reference) (JL)

Introduces and defines negative class participation in the English-as-a-Second-Language classroom, discusses its causes, and presents effective ways of preventing and responding to it. (22 references) (JL)

Discusses the use of the first language in teaching a second language. Specific sections address the following: arguments for using the mother tongue; considerations regarding the use of the target language; using L1 to facilitate communication; using L1 to facilitate teacher-student relationships; and using L1 to facilitate learning of L2. (six…

This article discusses the use and value of text reconstruction (TR) programs in second-language instruction. TR involves the complete, on-screen replacement of a short text by dashes, with the learner restoring the original text by typing in missing letters and words. TR may assist learners gain language competence as part of a sequence of…

Provides an overview of issues and research in three areas where gender manifests itself in the English-as-a-foreign-language classroom: the English language, materials (grammars, textbooks and teacher-guides), and processes (learning styles and strategies). Also examined are implications of gender in materials and classroom interaction for…

Summarizes the role, actions and positions of the California Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (CATESOL), the second largest affiliate of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). The importance of the development of professionalism and of working to improve the education of linguistic minority students is…

Explores the nature of examination questions in literature in teaching English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL). Three examples of questioning that are said to be more language based and that are suggested as supplements to conventional tests are discussed. These include general comprehension, textual focus, and personal response. (GLR)

An important component of second language programs is the skill of understanding and using the graphic structure of language involved. Inadequate handwriting, poor layout, and difficulties in reading are primary symptoms of students with a weak grasp of the graphic structure. (CB)