Indiana's declining SAT scores prompted the publisher of a statewide magazine covering the literary, performing, and visual arts to take action and create a program to use the magazine as a supplemental resource for students. It was believed that such a supplemental resource could enhance critical thinking and writing skills and help raise SAT…

Emphasizing that media skills are an integral part of the school curriculum, this product provides a guideline for the planning and implementation of media skills in the middle school. A number of activities are outlined for reinforcing the following objectives: media center orientation (coordinatd by media specialists to be carried on throughout…

This article summarizes the systematic process of instructional development by breaking down the three major stages of instructional analysis, design, and formative evaluation into the steps of needs analysis, learner analysis, task analysis, concept analysis, specification of instructional requirements, and the statement of instructional…

Authentic materials can be used to promote second language acquisition. Research on their effects on each language skill (reading, culture, writing, speaking, listening) is needed. Print media (such as newspapers) which are available and motivation, offer real interaction with the target language and culture, and are a valuable instructional…

This paper in the form of an outline addresses the use of songs and instrumental music throughout the English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) curriculum. The rationale for using music in general, and specifically using popular songs and instrumental music, are noted. Criteria for selection of music for classroom use are listed, and a taxonomy is…

This paper describes how comic books are used as instructional materials in an intensive English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) course and discusses the rationale for using them. The students in the course have low-intermediate English language skills with limited discourse and interactive competence. Comic books are used because they are authentic,…

The intent of the learning module described here is to increase users' skills in selecting effective instructional products for their classrooms. The module familiarizes users with product selection criteria and involves the user in practical demonstration of product selection. This descriptive report provides information on the purposes and…

Ways in which the French teacher can use print media for language skill development are offered. Classroom techniques for exploiting these texts for instruction in grammar, reading comprehension, writing, and oral expression are presented, including ideas for selecting a variety of authentic materials. (MSE)

Suggestions are offered on the use of animated lectures on CD-ROM into the curriculum of an upper-intermediate-level course in English-as-a-second-language speaking and listening. The technique is recommended as a means of sharpening student listening skills and preparing students for real-life lectures in college. Animated lectures were drawn…

Intended to provide a framework and impetus for future investigations of video games, this paper summarizes activities investigating the instructional use of such games, observations by the authors, and a proposed classification scheme and a paradigm to assist in the preliminary selection of instructional video games. Nine references are listed.…

A discussion of the use of dialogues in second language instruction focuses on uses of the techniques that are more appropriate than those used in the era of audio-lingual methodology. It is argued that during this period, dialogues were overused. Techniques are offered for use of dialogues to develop learners' listening and speaking skills.…

The purpose of this media study sought to determine whether similar patterns are found (1) when interviewing a larger number of participants and (2) when focusing on a specific content area. Thirty-eight undergraduate students enrolled in an undergraduate computer education class in a large Midwestern university volunteered to participate in…

A teacher of English in a college-level intensive English language program describes a method for stimulating speech in high-intermediate and advanced students, using short stories. It is argued that in short stories, the themes are universal, and even shy students are willing to discuss this form of literature in class. Criteria for selecting…

The use of language for real communication is of primary importance in bringing a foreign language to life for students. Native speakers can make a class come alive, and teachers should explore the possibilities for bringing exchange students and teachers into the school. Realia and foreign language children's books are also interesting to…

Major learning models pertaining to second language oral and writing instruction are explored with an intent to make practical suggestions for the field of second language instruction in Japan. A proposal for integrating a variety of instructional innovations, rather than incorporating isolated innovations is presented. Selection of appropriate…