In this article, the reviewers, Lee-Tat Chow and Peidong Yang compare and contrast "Desiring TESOL and international education," by Raqib Chowdhury and Phan Le-Ha, London, Multilingual Matters, 2014, 288 pp., £29.95 (paperback) ISBN 978-1-783-09147-8 with "Transnational education crossing 'Asia' and 'the West'," by Phan LeHa,…

The affordances and pedagogical benefits of technology in the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) classrooms are widely acknowledged. One potential use of technology is in eliciting and managing students' responses, which is an area where EAP/ESP teachers often report difficulties. Traditionally, teachers…

Paul Jablon's "The Synergy of Inquiry" (2014) is well-timed. The 2014 deadline set by No Child Left Behind (NCLB, 2002) for universal student proficiency has come and gone, and according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, "proficiency rates last year were below 50 percent for nearly every racial and ethnic group, in…

Reviews seven pedagogically orientated journals for foreign language teachers, most of which are designed for teachers of English-as-a-Second-Language: (1) "Practical English Teaching"; (2) "Modern English Teacher"; (3) "English Teaching Forum"; (4) "Guidelines"; (5) "ELT Journal"; (6) "Cross Currents"; and (7) "TESL Reporter." The names and…

This book offers teachers the tools they need to incorporate drama into their language classes. It provides instructions on how to do the following: conduct a drama class; use acting and role-play exercises; select appropriate scripts for language learners; guide students to write their own scripts; and dramatize scripts for performance. Chapter…

Describes the teaching approach and materials in "Origins," a book about word origins and how to teach them to elementary students. Notes that this book includes step-by-step activities, a brief history of the English language, relevant poetry examples, and several writing ideas. (MM)

Describes three IBM compatible French language software packages: (1) "Ticket to Paris," a tourist searches for his cousin answering questions on culture, language, history, art, banking, and shopping; (2) "La Guillotine," a French version of the hangman game; and (3) "Bataille de Mots," tutors on 450 French nouns,…

Offers reviews of 10 professional books that offer valuable information to language arts teachers who are concerned with the linguistic and cultural diversity in their classrooms. (SR)

Classroom second language instruction can be characterized as one of the following: focus-on-formS, focus-on-meaning, or focus-on-form. The book titled "Focus on Form in Classroom Second Language Acquisition" (Doughty & Williams, 1998) argues for the desirability of focus-on-form over focus-on-formS and focus-on-meaning, discussing the efficacy…

Reviews "Thematic Units: An Integrated Approach to Teaching Science and Social Studies" (Fredericks, Meinbach, and Rothlein); "Using Poetry across the Curriculum: A Whole Language Approach" (Chatton); "Getting Down to Cases: Learning to Teach with Case Studies" (Wassermann); "Phonic Phacts" (Goodman); and "English As a Second Language: 25…

Several texts for adult literacy classes are reviewed and trends are indicated in the following areas: definitions, assumptions of prior knowledge, teacher guidance, reading instruction, writing instruction, writing expectations, reading/writing strategies, grammar, and illustrative materials. Questions for teacher guidance are appended. (Contains…

Reviewed are three computer software programs: (1) "World GeoGraph"--geography, discovery tool, grades 6-12, Apple IIGS; (2) "Grammatik III"--language arts, grade 7-adult, IBM, PS/2, Tandy 1000; (3) "Words & Concepts I, II, III"--language and concept training for special education, age 3-9, Apple II with speech…

Reviews five sets of thematically related books with the intent of helping instructors make connections between children's literature and real living. Investigates five areas, all broadly speaking to the issue of "security": (1) unsettling experiences; (2) nature study; (3) overcoming evil; (4) exploring adolescent angst; (5) journeying for…

Reviews two handbooks of research and focuses on what they have to offer professionals in the field of reading and language arts. (MG)

Reviews "The Community as Classroom" by Candida Gillis. Asserts that the book systematically shows how to take a segment of society--in this case, the elderly--and use that community in the language arts classroom. (MM)