A comprehensive study on error analysis was conducted to categorize problematic areas for French-speaking learners of English. "Faux amis" seemed to have been the cause of about 50 percent of the errors analyzed under lexis. Noun, adjective, and verb errors are illustrated. (SW)

This article focuses on two elements of the dialogue: the "real-life" quality of the language (where to find "real-life" language, how to check its authenticity, how to record it) and the element of unpredictability (how to create "real-life" dialogues with unexpected responses which necessitate well-developed listening skills). (CFM)

"It" as a personal pronoun is used in many expressions without reference to persons or things. Chinese students of English as a second language find the different uses hard to understand. The differing uses of "it" in English and Chinese and errors made by Chinese students are discussed. (SW)

The linguistic and cultural needs of Chinese students should be considered in English as a second language classes. A job interview is used as a social situation for an exercise to practice sentences demonstrating correct Canadian social usage. (SW)

"Gambits" are conversational tools for introducing what we're about to say, such as "Excuse me for interrupting, but..." A three-part textbook series for students of English as a Second Language entitled "Gambits" contains exercises for advanced students which attempt to recreate "real-life" language…

Flowcharts have proved to be a useful technique for structuring dialogues in the ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom. They can chart a transactional relationship between two people, staring at the first linguistic encounter, providing alternatives to what happens next while proceeding to the end of the encounter. (CFM)

Discusses "proper intake" (intake that contains certain designated features of informal communication) in the classroom, when the goal is for students to be able to use language in informal communication. (Author/HP)

The English as a second language (ESL) curriculum should focus on tasks which embody the kinds of thinking that students might encounter outside the ESL class setting. A sample ESL unit having tasks to provide intrinsic motivation to use certain linguistic structures is presented. (SW)