Describes the activities used by a teacher of English as a second language in Japan, including summarization and storytelling. (HTH)

Argues that summarizing, paraphrasing, and precis writing skills are important to the development of critical thinking and the ability to learn from text. Describes the use of precis writing in the English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classroom. (RS)

Describes a class activity based on the game of "Gossip" in which a group of students paraphrases a major concept in an instructional unit, then passes only the paraphrase to the next group. Notes that this activity encourages critical thinking and helps review and summarize key lesson concepts. (RS)

Notes that given constraints on time, class size, and material to be covered, language and reading teachers may have difficulty implementing the richer, more contextualized language activities called for by second language and reading researchers. Describes the dialogue journal as one way of promoting such teacher-student interaction. (RS)