Suggestions for using various dramatic techniques including a student-written cabaret to teach German at all levels of proficiency are described. The method promotes language proficiency, is pedagogically sound, flexible, rewarding, and fun. It can be adapted for use in teaching other languages. (PMJ)

Focuses on use of student-created visuals in ESL classroom to cue relevant conversation and writing, reinforce vocabulary, strengthen personal identity, and enhance classroom atmosphere. Offers rationale for using personal art experiences; gives criteria and examples of implementation. (Author/BK)

Pictorial flashcards, particularly with effective use of color and humor, are recommended for effective secondary school Spanish classrooms. Student participation in flashcard creation, thematic cards as teaching tools, and class activities are described. (LB)

A teaching method is described and illustrated that begins with the presentation of a basic dialogue containing new learning material and progresses to the group's acting out its own dialogues and discussing them with the class. The objective is to lead learners from understanding new material to using it creatively and, ultimately, for their own…

The opportunities for real language use in creating a slide show in the language class are described. Fifteen steps for replicating the project are included. Students choose the topic, develop the story line, create the dialogue, take the photographs, write the script, and act the roles. (PMJ)

Second language reading is a vital skill that aids the communication process. It provides language input and reinforces spoken language. Because the modern world is print-oriented, foreign language and English-as-a-Second-Language learners need to develop reading skills as rapidly as possible. Reading must be taught rather than acquired passively.…

Student-generated materials are a means by which students may be brought into the role of active participant in their own second language learning processes. To create their own materials, students can engage in the following types of activities: (1) performance, or those in which the student prepares and delivers a message to the group (e.g.,…

Although typical, traditional language lesson content has been imaginary characters and information, content based on the real world has been rare. Some possible content types to develop are another academic subject, the culture where the language is spoken, and interesting facts about the world in general. (MSE)

Describes an English as a second language classroom activity adaptable to students of any age and at any level of language proficiency. The music story stimulates individual input and real communication, as the students must create stories from their imagination, inspired by listening to a certain musical selection. (SL)

Thirty classroom-tested activities are presented for motivating students to communicate orally in any foreign language. For each activity, the following information is provided: level, purpose, materials, procedure, and source. Variations and follow-up activities are also suggested. (Author/AMH)

Three papers address the use of videotape recordings for instruction in English as a Second Language. The first paper, by Cynthia Leaney, describes a program in which language learners produce a videotape through an integrated skills approach, offering practical advice and insight for teachers considering this type of activity. The paper presents…

A discussion of the use of readily-available consumer videotape recorders and recordings that second language students can either respond to or dub with their own soundtracks emphasizes the usefulness of authentic recordings not tailored for instructional use. The recordings either originate abroad or are produced by the students. The playback…

This publication, launched by the French Council of the Alberta Teachers' Association and prepared under the Millennium Partnership Program in Canada, presents a collection of essays written by French language immersion students in the elementary and secondary grades. Essay topics touch on the following themes: remembering, dreaming, celebrating,…

Where English as a Second Language is taught as part of the regular school curriculum, student motivation may be limited. One solution is to encourage involvement in learning by having students write their own tests. For classroom tests used in formative evaluation, this approach can be applied to both group and individual work. A unit from an…

One of a group of modular courses developed for a college-level program in English as a second language (ESL) is an intermediate level course designed to help students develop their knowledge of the world through language. The course, modeled on the popular game Trivial Pursuit, requires students to learn library skills and perform research on a…