This article responds to Jordan and Gray's critique of the global coursebook and the call to have open, critical discussions about coursebook use in light of SLA research (Jordan and Gray 2019). I?make a case for why the assumptions made about what constitutes a global coursebook are too narrow. I?also dismiss the idea of one type of global…

The advocacy of task-based language teaching (TBLT) has met with resistance. The critiques of TBLT and the misconceptions that underlie them have already been addressed in Ellis (2009) and Long (2016). The purpose of this article is to move forward by examining a number of real problems that TBLT faces--such as how a "task" should be…

The time has come to create a realistic grammar syllabus in the beginning language courses. Yet why do some in the profession insist that all grammar must be taught in the first year of language learning? Abundant data from decades of research on topics such as human memory, chunking, and second language acquisition exist that overwhelmingly…

This article reports on a teacher-talk training course for Japanese primary school teachers, who are preparing to teach "communicative English" for the first time. The article argues that teacher-talk training is important for communicative classes with young students because most of the input and interaction is by default teacher…

This article presents the process of recent curricular revision and material development in English at the national level in India in a limited way. Teachers' needs and wants, their participation in the development of materials, the dilemmas of teachers and their implications for classroom transactions are discussed from the experiences of one of…

Argues that grading in the English-as-a-Foreign/International Language lexical syllabus takes place within the limitations of the basic area of English vocabulary. This is shown to be a consequence of the non-departure from "general interests: topics or topics that are deemed central to learning a target language. (Author/VWL)

Describes the rationale, careful development, and first offering of an ethics course in French based on the works of the Canadian writer Gabrielle Roy. The course encouraged students to read literature from a variety of perspectives and also helped them apply ethical theory and examples to their own situations and provided a way for them to…

Describes a stand-alone course titled Using Computers in the Language Classroom that is offered in the master's in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program in an urban university in Southern California. This collaborative video project allows students to discover firsthand how computer technology can aid classroom learning.…

To ensure the success of English-as-a-Second-Language learners, teachers need to determine what each learner needs and wants to learn. This is done through needs analysis before, during, and after the course. The results of the assessment will result in the design of the syllabus. (Author/VWL)

Discusses the incorporation of German songs into language courses, suggesting that songs often provide students with a short, coherent, and authentic text. Provides a detailed account of the course development, and demonstrates that grammatical points are easily practiced and cultural messages are readily grasped through words and music.…

Responds to an earlier article that illustrated how metaphorically applying chaos and complexity theory to language teaching, second language acquisition, and the observed lesson can alter perspectives about how these things are viewed. Suggests that chaos and complexity theory could also help see the following areas in a new light: syllabus…

Looks at an innovative organizational tool for syllabus design of English-as-a-Foreign-Language, computer-assisted language learning writing classes that is borrowed from the interdisciplinary field of information architecture. The tool around which this syllabus design is structured is the Location-Alphabet-Time-Category-Hierarchy (LATCH), to…

Traces the evolution of the unexpected popular and critical success of French musicals during recent years and describes a course designed and taught on the comedie-musicale moderne. Used a variety of Internet sites to expand and enrich the traditional notion of text to include thematic, visual, and lyrical elements by making the musical…

Argues that social language should be delayed in a second language course until a core of factual language has been built up. The article presents an account of verb-form clustering and of some of the problems caused by discrete treatment of verb forms. It also suggests how to implement verb clustering within the context of syllabus design. (11…

Focuses on developing courses that facilitate progress toward American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages advanced proficiency by discussing a third-year composition and conversation course designed to increase students' communicative skills. Also examines redesigning programs to meet the diverse needs of students and suggests links to…