The role of culture in the classroom is of increasing interest to teachers and researchers alike. Teachers communicate from unique perspectives and backgrounds; the same is true of students. Many differing cultures are represented in today's classroom, and consequently, many differences in approaches and preferences are represented. Research…

This book is intended for graduate teaching assistants and undergraduate teacher education majors who might benefit from a directed exploration, reflection, and application of particular topics related to communicative language teaching and for practicing teachers who need a resource manual for developing tasks and materials for their classrooms.…

Three studies explored the binary distinctions in research on literacies and gender. The first study sought to identify and describe any multiple subjectivities that might be interrelated with gender in the development of reading, writing, and orality. Participant informants were 10 adults enrolled in a graduate seminar entitled "Gender,…

This paper discusses the merits and limitations of using both fiction and nonfiction films and videos to teach issues related to gender (especially issues of appearance, dieting, aging, abuse, rape, and power relationships between the sexes) in gender communication courses (and by extension, other communication courses, such as interpersonal…

The purpose of this paper is to analyze feedback given by students of a communication theory class, which uses an integrated approach to help students learn the concepts of communication theory. This analysis seeks to determine how this integrated approach helps students understand communication theory, if at all it does help them. The paper draws…

Reflecting a constructivist approach to teaching and learning, this book presents the content of the language arts curriculum and the most effective strategies for teaching this content. The processes of reading and writing provide the foundation for the three instructional approaches presented in the book: literature focus units, reading and…

This document is a narrative of one experienced English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teacher's struggle to improve the English language learning skills of her beginning level students. She found this difficult to do in a situation where the learners spent only 4 hours a week in class, and only 2 of those in her class. Rather than focus on how to do…

Reports a study of nonverbal communication in which 77 female student teachers of physical education were observed during teaching practice to identify any patterns of communicative acts, the balance of verbal and nonverbal components, and whether the patterns are related to pupil responsiveness. Cluster and factor analysis are used. (EAO)

Reported the development of a set of scales to measure three factors in teacher communication concern: self, task, and impact. In addition, examined the potential relationship between teacher communication concern, teacher anxiety, and attitude toward teaching as a career. Found positive correlations between communication concern and attitude…

Discusses the importance of all forms of nonverbal communication in the teaching of foreign languages, including body language, paralinguistics, cross cultural understanding, and visual aids in teaching. (AM)

Ways in which violating traditional expectations about teaching helps change, shape, and focus student ability to extract meaning from works of art are discussed. Alternative teaching modes include use of inquiry methods rather than lectures, in-class reading of the artwork as text instead of assigned readings about the artwork, and group…

Examines computer-mediated communication (CMC) in higher education, particularly the evaluation of network resources for course-related student communication. Presents case studies of e-mail seminars in Scottish language studies and music, demonstrates the significance of emphasizing process over outcome, and discusses factors affecting CMC usage:…

Examines the historical and socioeconomic context of classroom code switching in Hong Kong. Empirical analyses of actual instances of classroom code switching reveal this action to be the teachers' and students' local pragmatic response to the symbolic domination of English. The article concludes with a cost-benefit analysis of the Hong Kong…

Examines language practices in secondary classrooms in Malta, showing how teachers and students switch between Maltese and English to construct knowledge, interact with monolingual English texts, and interrelate. The article places these practices against the island's historical and social background to reveal that teachers use English to appear…

Evaluated the development and implementation of Questioning-the-Author, an instructional technique that focuses on reconstructing and extending author meaning, and on refining and using related discussion comments to construct new questions and develop more evidential insight. Found that teacher talk decreased in quantity and increased in quality.…