Providing foundational academic support to Indiana's culturally and linguistically diverse students is a cornerstone of the state's educational goals. Over 140,000 Indiana students speak a language other than English at home, and there are over 295 different languages represented in Indiana schools. Of these, over 93,000 students have been…

More than 112,000 Indiana students speak a language other than English at home, and there are over 275 different languages represented in Indiana schools. Of these, over 50,000 students have been formally identified as English learners due to limited proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing academic English. English learners make…

An after-school activity offered by the Central Institute of English Language called "Games" is described. The purpose of the activity is to stimulate and increase oral fluency and production. Several games are commented on. (RM)

Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore developed a three-part procedure to help English language students overcome anxiety about preparing and delivering a two-minute persuasive talk as part of an exam. The approach has the students first talk about themselves and then use computer prompts and videotaped practice speeches. (LB)

Asserts that common techniques for the teaching of question formation disregard the speaker's purpose and the situation. Moreover, they are frequently based on transforming written sentences, which does not facilitate oral communication. Suggests criteria for judging question-teaching techniques and provides samples of "good"…

The development of accent and fluency are traced in the speech of 20 Mandarin and 20 Slavic adult immigrants to Canada over a period of 10 months. The participants were enrolled in an ESL program but had no special instruction in either pronunciation or fluency. The immigrants' self-reported exposure to English outside of class was used to…

This report describes a research study designed to adopt a predominantly quantitative approach to investigating three related aspects of oral fluency: fluency improvement, correlation between subjective judgments and objective counts, and variation of fluency in different speech interactions. Subjects were 15 English as a foreign language (EFL)…

"Gambits" are conversational tools for introducing what we're about to say, such as "Excuse me for interrupting, but..." A three-part textbook series for students of English as a Second Language entitled "Gambits" contains exercises for advanced students which attempt to recreate "real-life" language…

The use of two types of commercially available Apple computer educational software in English for the development of accuracy and fluency in students of English as a second language is described. One type of program is aimed at the drilling and practice of grammar in English. Some of these programs have interesting formats and allow the teacher to…

The communicative approach used in the teaching of second languages is also effective in teaching pronunciation of English as a second language. Communicative principles and activities in the areas of consonants and vowels, contractions, recued expressions and linking, suprasegmentals, and monitoring are discussed. (CB)

Examines the rationale behind using musical drama in English-as-a-Second-Language classes, explaining that it is an enjoyable experience that enriches students' English while they are relaxed, working as a team, and having fun with their imaginations. The article explains the process of putting on a play and evaluates the effect such a project had…

Provides an inventory of traditional techniques used in the teaching of pronunciation of English as a second language. Most of the techniques are production-oriented, for their purpose is to improve production of spoken English. (CB)

English as a second language teachers should make learners comfortable with the fact that not being understood at times is a natural and expected part of the communication process. Encouragement to understand what lies behind the misunderstandings and what strategies might be employed to ensure continued communication serves learners well on the…

A new approach taken to teach English to visiting West German teenagers in an immersion course in England emphasizes language use for fluency. Although the syllabus is designed to provide practice in all four language skills, it focuses on integrating the four skills, increasing productive skills, sensitizing the students to the value of paired…

The communication difficulties of foreign teaching assistants (TA) in U.S. colleges are addressed in 11 articles, with attention to the problems of the TA system as a whole in the spirit of international educational exchange. Titles and authors include the following: "'The Foreign TA Problem'" (Kathleen M. Bailey); 'Toward an Anthropology of the…