In her article, Icy Lee (2019, pp. 524-536) discusses the differences between comprehensive written corrective feedback (CWCF) and focused written corrective feedback (FWCF). She argues that teachers should concentrate more on focused feedback, and highlight and correct only a few grammar errors or issues with organisation, for example, instead of…

In her position article, Lee (2019) compellingly argues for focused written corrective feedback (FWCF) and offers clear guidelines for teachers to shift their feedback approach. As English language teaching practitioners in Chinese universities, we share Lee's view against any unthinking adherence to comprehensive written corrective feedback…

This essay on three recent books by outstanding scholars--"La raison scolaire" by Bernard Lahire, "Histoire de l'enseignement du francais du XVII[superscript e] au XX[superscript e] siecle" by Andre Chervel, and "L'ecole et la lecture obligatoire" by Anne-Marie Chartier--offers the opportunity to acquaint readers with…

Michael Rosen, writer, performer, broadcaster and teacher, has been teaching in universities since 1994. He has an MA in Children's Literature from Reading University and a PhD from the University of North London. The father of five children, he discusses in this article his views on Genre Theory, and how he believes it has slipped between the…

A subcommittee of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Executive Committee wrote the "NCTE Beliefs about the Teaching of Writing" in 2004. In over a decade since, the everyday experience of writing in people's lives has expanded dramatically. Increasingly, handheld devices are important instruments for people's writing,…

Reflections by the magazine's retiring editor on the topics of censorship, the state of education, teaching, language, and literature. (RBW)

This article argues that consideration by teachers of spoken English shows that learners need to be given choices between written and spoken grammars, that the interpersonal implications of spoken grammars are important, and that methodologically inductive learning may be more appropriate than the presentation-practice-production approaches…

Procedures useful in teaching translation are presented, including the following: silent reading, focused rereading, identifying vocabulary, dictionary work, oral translation, written translation, rereading the translation. (three references) (LB)

Argues that there is good reason to approach written literature through the oral phase. Essential literary form can best be taught from the oral/aural viewpoint. A creative approach is suggested that can lead to critical appreciation of students' own work. (JL)

Arguments about how to teach initial reading are once more in the news. Proponents of "synthetic phonics" argue that there is only one effective way to teach a child to read. In this anniversary issue, it is worth taking a step back from the polarisation of the "synthetic" versus "analytic" phonics debate, to consider the evidence base for reading…

Explores the English language spelling system and the differences between written and spoken language. Points out that, although young children have a complex understanding of language, four-to-six-year-olds do not have the linguistic competence of adults. Explains how teachers can help in areas of difficulty. (JM)

The ability to write in Chinese often takes longer to develop than the ability to speak among overseas Chinese. Due to the difficulties involved, many foreigners learning Chinese also stay away from writing. A method is presented here that suggests that students should be free to write in a manner based on what they are able to speak. The approach…

Reviews the psycholinguistic view of the relationship between reading and written and spoken language and presents teaching strategies for beginning readers based on this view. (FL)

Reviews literature defining the characteristics of the complex puzzle children encounter moving from oral language to print. Illustrates that, by reading their own writing, children discover the precise connection between reading, writing, and language. (HTH)

To provide some perspective on current issues and challenges concerning the role of grammar in language teaching, methodological trends of the past 25 years are reviewed. A proposal for a decision-making strategy is provided for resolving the controversy regarding how much grammar one should teach to language learners. (VWL)