This paper examines the potential benefits of standards-based instruction for English language learners (ELLs), presents a backward mapping process for designing standards-based instructional units, and reviews the design of two standards-based units for ELLs. Most of the document is in the form of a table to make the standards-based process…

American (and English language) television has gradually become a more influential factor in the way people are learning English overseas, as access to cable programming has widely spread across cities, regardless of socio-cultural backgrounds. What students watch on TV affects not only how they are learning the language, but also their cultural…

One out of every five students in Florida's K-12 public schools is classified as an English Language Learner (ELL). While policy-makers increasingly use standardized testing, even as they debate the appropriate instructional methods for an ever-increasing population of non-native English speaking students, how will these students' educational…

Recent political imperatives have pushed the issue of teacher quality to the top of the reform agenda in U.S. education (Cochran-Smith & Fries, 2001; Darling-Hammond & Youngs, 2002). While the recent focus on teacher quality may give us the illusion that it is a new topic, questions about the preparation, recruitment, and retention of good…

Briefly characterizes the creative aspect of language use and demonstrates how some typical present day teaching techniques are inadequate for teaching it. (FB)

Offers a model which can be used to describe any given second language teaching method, as well as analyze different methods for their internal adequacy, similarities, and differences. (EKN)

Proposes that instructors of advanced ESL courses for executives adopt the case method, which allows these executives to use the managerial skills they have developed over the years. Explains this method and describes the role of the instructor/consultant. (EKN)

Combines studies in cognitive psychology and language acquisition with observations of pedagogical materials and student performance to analyze foreign-language teaching from the perspective of what students and teachers need to understand about language learning and language before meaningful debate over methodology can be undertaken. (Author/MES)

Describes pedagogical experiment with emphasis on the student and his/her specific needs and motivations. Involves self- and group work with teacher support. Individual work alternates with group work, focusing on production of a project or task corresponding to objectives defined by members of group. (Author/BK)

Discusses stylistic variation in communication, the elements involved (participants, contact, message, context, and code), and ways in which to incorporate the knowledge of this process in second language instruction. (AM)

Discusses the process of native language learning and explores the relationship between it and second language learning. It is suggested that in a language curriculum, the initial emphasis should be on receptive skills. Accuracy, appropriateness, and fluency in communication are discussed, as well as instructional modes for training in these…

Describes preception-oriented foreign language teaching strategies by listing the characteristic features of the perception of social processes and the methods for putting the principles of perception orientation into practice through such techniques as dialogues, roleplays, and simulation. Includes extensive bibliographic references. (PMJ)

Described is the secondary science teacher's answer to the needs of their limited English proficiency students. Topics include the parallels between acquiring a first and a second language, the kind of learning environment most conducive to language learning, and scientific processes which are used for instructing students with English as a second…

Outlines sample exercises developed in a program designed to teach minimal (threshold level) competencies based on students' communication needs and the concept of a notional syllabus. (AM)