Readers theater is a storytelling device that stimulates the imagination and promotes all of the language arts. Readers theater is an oral interpretation of a piece of literature read in a dramatic style. It involves and motivates students, energizes the language arts program, and stimulates learning. Geared for children in grades 1-4, this book…

The Arabic language used in Egypt is traditionally divided into two major types: classical and colloquial. The idea is that classical or literary Arabic is to be found mostly in formal writing and speaking, whereas colloquial Arabic is used mainly in daily conversation. When it comes to actual usage, however, this distinction is not always clearly…

Presents the Diverse Decision Makers, a humorous classification of student career decision-making characteristics which can be used to stimulate group discussion in career planning workshops. The use of humor provides students with a different perspective to their problem and suggests some of the underlying difficulties in decision making. (JAC)

Describes children's literature suitable for young Hispanic students as well as English-speaking readers who want to learn Spanish. (FL)

Discusses the reasons for growing disenchantment with the language laboratory and introduces a novel approach to advanced listening comprehension exercises based on recordings of professional entertainers. Analyzes the sketches as examples of authentic discourse, as illustrations of different speech registers and regional variants, and as vehicles…

Two high school English teachers disagree on the efficacy of making jokes about racial and cultural stereotypes. (RL)

Popular culture is defended as a solid academic entry that is a new approach to sociology, art, and literature. The contributions and theories of three professors are discussed: Arthur Asa Berger, Leslie Fiedler, and Alan Gowans. They illustrate the range and diversity in the pop culture field. (LBH)

Investigates the role of language in adult numeracy classrooms, utilizing the resources of systemic functional linguistics and constructs derived from conversational analysis and ethnomethodology to examine how these classrooms are constructed in discourse. The study characterizes these classrooms as mixed-mode discourse sites and examines how…

Reviews the use of humor in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Black Creole Jamaican literature and song. Concludes that irony is inherent in the creative expression of early Jamaicans and writers about Jamaica, arising from inconsistencies of attitudes of Blacks toward Whites and toward themselves. (FMW)

A tongue-in-cheek guide for new administrators contains observations on these topics: education policy, faculty governance, the board and other constituencies, life in the bureaucratic lane, the use and abuse of resources, the administrator's worst enemy, and maintaining perspective on the job. (MSE)

Effective promotion and communication of public library services is essential. The following questions are examined: (1) Why promote? (2) What should be promoted? (3) How much promotion/communication needs to be done? (4) What is the best way to promote/communicate? and (5) What are some of the potential pitfalls? Thomas Smith's "Hints to…

Describes a writing workshop for eighth graders that seeks to tap into the humor of their everyday lives, and that uses humorous literature and film to spark writing. (SR)

Amusing cartoon pictures can personalize the young deaf child's relationship with his FM (frequency modulation) auditory trainer. The pictures can serve as reminders to turn the trainer on, to utilize it fully, and to care for it properly. (DB)

Humor can enliven classes, establish and maintain rapport, create ambiance for learning, and enhance student acquisition and retention. Ways to use humor in the classroom are presented, including clearly verbal approaches, visual aid techniques (magazines, cartoons, ads, etc.), and the humor of stand-up comedians. (12 references) (LB)

Presents a humorous treatment of the "sessio taurino" (or humanistic inquiry) technique for describing changes in technological models. The fundamental tool of "sessio taurino" is a loosely-structured event known as the session, which is of indeterminate length, involves a flexible number of participants, and utilizes a…