Intensive English programmes (IEPs) are college and university units that provide international students with academic English instruction for the purpose of admission to the host institution. IEPs are colonial endeavours: they commodify and promote a language with a traceable colonial history that is reinforced through modern structures of…

The major European testing agencies have calibrated their exams to the levels of language proficiency described in the Common European Framework (CEFR). In Italy, where the Framework has been enthusiastically embraced, external exams are now frequently used within the state education system as they are believed to provide reliable, widely…

This article describes the efforts of an intensive English programme to design a class that addressed the challenges of bringing authentic English into the curriculum. This class exposed students to a variety of authentic English language input, while providing support. Through this class, students volunteered with various community organizations.…

The process of autonomization in ESL(English as a second language) classes of the Canadian government sensitizes students to English and to their performance in English. Students then establish priorities for their own skill development and determine how to reach their goals. A case study of one student in the Advanced Language Training Program is…

Describes an attempt made at the University of Reading to support or discount claims made about the pedagogic value of communication games. Some evidence was found in support of games' roles in encouraging students to practice language skills. (Author/CB)