The chapters in "Explorations in Second Language Reading" reveal the importance of reading in the classroom and how instructors can use reading as a bridge to improve learners' other linguistic and interpersonal skills. Most significantly, each author prompts us to rediscover how enjoyable ESOL reading can be and how it can increase learner…

Report analyzes some problems and issues confronting Asian and Pacific bilingual education raised in a study commissioned by the National Advisory Council on Bilingual Education. Areas examined include training and certification of bilingual education teachers, types of basic programs, and materials development, assessment and dissemination.…

The guide for teachers of English as a Second Language offers practical advice on the format and layout of instructional materials they produce using desktop publishing technology. An introductory section discusses important design considerations for producing effective materials. Subsequent sections describe how to: organize ideas; outline the…

Suggestions for combining cultural exposure and language instruction through class activities geared to American holidays are outlined. General information about gathering holiday-related realia and instructional materials from local newspapers and magazines is provided, and four specific holidays are highlighted. For each holiday, sources of…

Discusses some of the reasons why idioms are difficult for second language learners to learn, including the fact that most materials for teaching idioms are inadequate. Criteria are suggested for choosing idioms to teach; 10 activities are described which will help students understand and produce idiomatic English. (Author/SED)

Discusses the objectives, construction and use of crossword puzzles in classes in English as a foreign language. (RM)

This guide is designed for facilitators and planners of adult literacy programs in the various countries of Anglophone West Africa, where many individuals have learned literacy in their own community languages but have not developed the English literacy skills required to function effectively in public administration and employment facilities. The…

Intended for writers of instructional materials for teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), the list describes word lists and language corpora that may be of use in creating, simplifying, and refining vocabulary content in ESL materials. The sources are dated from 1944 to the present, and include a freeware computer program. Some limited…

The review of research and literature discusses the relationship between academic research activity and the teaching of English as a second language (ESL). Attitudes toward the research/teaching relationship are examined, and criticisms over the past decade are summarized. A model is offered of the most common, top-down conception of the flow of…

The concept of comprehensible input in second language learning is applied to the teaching of English as a Second Language. Techniques for teacher adaptation of materials and classroom presentation are outlined. The first step is assembly of topic-appropriate pictures and the production of simple third-person statements to accompany them. Leisure…

The Conflict Resolution Model project was designed to develop and field test an instructional model and materials for use in providing instruction in conflict resolution theory and techniques to participants in adult basic and literacy education (ABLE) and English-as-a-second-language (ESL) programs. The instructional materials were written in a…

Three papers address the use of videotape recordings for instruction in English as a Second Language. The first paper, by Cynthia Leaney, describes a program in which language learners produce a videotape through an integrated skills approach, offering practical advice and insight for teachers considering this type of activity. The paper presents…

Outlines the business and production aspects of self-publishing, with some tips for desktop publishing, as it involves the design and development of Canadian English-as a-second-language instructional materials. (Author/CB)

The background, research, development, and recommended use of a set of instructional materials for teaching listening comprehension to adult learners of English as a second language are outlined in detail. The materials were developed in response to a need for real-life language samples for use in teaching listening comprehension of English. A…

Problems that language teachers face in conducting English classes using computers are discussed. Based on case studies carried out in Malaysia, suggestions are offered on matters to include in teacher training. (four references) (Author/LB)