A series of five experiments tested the importance of four types of skill development (single-word decoding, vocabulary knowledge, knowledge of text schemas, and question-answering skills) for reading comprehension improvement. In two of three experiments involving undergraduates with no known reading problems, results indicated that teaching text…

Developed by the ABCs of Construction National Workplace Literacy Project, this fifth-grade level module teaches different kinds of vocabulary words encountered in work-related texts used by pipefitter trainees. The module covers the following topics: differences between general, specialized, and technical words; learning new words; drills for…

The dictionary for Central and E-Saan varieties of Thai is designed as a reference for use by Peace Corps volunteers assigned to northeastern Thailand. An introductory section gives an overview of the dictionary's content and design. Most of the words included are functional vocabulary, and the usage is illustrated in sample sentences written in…

A study examined the training of students to use context clues more effectively. Subjects were five fifth and sixth grade remedial students identified as low verbal students. The subjects were met with individually for 9 sessions of approximately 30 minutes each, prior to or following the school day. Two sessions were devoted to testing and seven…

Based on a series of studies of the ways in which literary imagination can be used to explore options, solve problems, and understand others, this book is about reading literature, thinking about it, and teaching it. The book, focusing on literature instruction, offers a way to rethink the contribution of literature to intelligent thinking as well…

Ideas and step-by-step instructions for creating and using chants, poetry, and songs in the English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classroom are presented. The technique is offered as an alternative to conventional pattern practice, emphasizing rhythms of the spoken language and reinforcing structures, sounds, and functions of American English. Ideas…

The classroom text for teaching the Upper Koyukon variety of Koyukon, an Athabaskan language of Alaska, consists of a series of lessons designed for use throughout a school year (September through June), with three to seven lessons for each month. The language used is relatively simple, consisting primarily of simple statements and questions. The…

This paper focuses on ways to include collaborative learning experiences in reading/writing courses as a method of addressing the demands for improving the communication skills of college students. It includes suggestions drawn from methods used in a college developmental reading class (which can, however, be modified for other types of classes),…

American literature is brought to life for Secondary students (grades 9-12) through this book which presents over 145 ready-to-use, interdisciplinary activities--for use with any American literature curriculum. The activities aim to improve writing skills, encourage critical thinking and literary analysis, and build vocabulary. Flexible enough for…

This paper addresses the value and components of developing prereading skills to improve students' reading comprehension. Prereading activities are seen to prepare the student to both read and comprehend the story and involve cognitive engagement with ideas crucial to comprehension of the reading material. Teachers are urged to develop the…

This learning module is intended as a worksite-specific example of a curriculum that addresses the specific job-related language needs of nonnative speakers of English. The module, which is designed to be presented in three 10-week sessions, focuses on different parts of the work orders typically encountered by workers in two different departments…

This book of fables from the animal kingdom contains: "The Frog Who Knew Too Much"; "Long Tail the Lizard"; "The Otter Who Went to the Bottom of the Sea"; "The Single-Wattled Cassowary and His Lethal Toe"; "The Rebel Gerbil"; "Why Hairless Monkeys Turn Out So Bad"; and "The Eagles'…

The Nihongo tutorial system is an intelligent tutorial system designed to use a computer to assist scientists and engineers in developing reading competence in technical Japanese. It consists of three applications: the Nihongo Tutor, which provides useful information about an article (translation, syntax, pronunciation) to help understand the text…

This Lao language textbook is the second draft of a book developed for teaching Lao to United States Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs) and is designed to be used with a Lao language instructor familiar with competency based curricula. It is not designed for self-instruction, although after some hours of use, students may be familiar enough with the…

This paper reports the results of three investigations which examined the effects of computer-based language intervention with children who have severe handicaps. The first study looked at the vocabulary learning and use and growth in social communication of eight toddlers, comparing a computer-based approach with traditional intervention…