The purpose of this paper is to analyze the determinants of the current state of the ELT field in Mexican contexts. In particular, it explores the ways in which diverse social and political factors hamper the successful implementation of national and institutional ELT policies. Drawing on a case study carried out throughout a period of five years,…

This article describes the implementation of technology-mediated tasks in an English for academic purposes (EAP) curriculum at a Japanese university. The course addressed the needs of English majors at the school by enabling more efficient completion of academic work, including essay writing. One way that technology supported this goal was through…

Students enrolled in a college preparatory reading class were categorized based on language origin. Native English speakers comprised one group and foreign students were dichotomized into Latin-based (for example, Spanish) and non Latin-based (for example, Japanese) language groups. A pretest assessment quantified existing knowledge of Latinate…

Looks at what constitutes culture in university teaching settings worldwide and how this may be operationalized as an international teaching assistant (ITA) need. Investigates ITAs' educational attitudes towards teacher and student roles, modes of information presentation, and significant mores of higher education as mediated by gender, previous…

Reports on current English language learning strategies used by Arabic-speaking English-majors enrolled at a University in Palestine. Results showed that gender and proficiency had no significant differences on the use of strategies. Recommends that more training should be given in using cognitive, memory and compensation strategies by embedding…

Presents a blueprint for the creation of a university-based English for academic purposes content-based course in information literacy for undergraduate and graduate students in various disciplines. Proposes steps for replicating courses similar to this one by examining the rationale for the course, curriculum considerations, integration into a…

Focuses on how teaching experience at a newly implemented second language writing center contributed towards personal theory development of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) writing for three teachers. Combined the literature on teacher knowledge with ESL writing to study teachers' changing beliefs about ESL writers, readers, texts, and contexts.…

Investigated the potential role of English-as-a-Second/Foreign-Language (ESL/EFL) websites to supplement in-class instruction. Evaluated a program in which students in an EFL class were introduced to five websites and instructed to use them for a homework assignment and self study. Students found learning through ESL/EFL websites was interesting…

Offers a partial solution for teachers working with mixed-ability classes, based on a research study conducted with a group of Japanese learners of English who represent a wide range of abilities. Suggests that high-level students may be a valuable and exploitable resource in the mixed-ability classroom. (Author/VWL)

Details the advantages and process of creating an online English-as-a-Second-Language placement test. Outlines the steps for constructing a good test and describes the piloting of an online exam over a 2-year period. (Author/VWL)

Investigates the influence of goal orientations on strategy use patterns and reading comprehension of adult English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) readers. Thirty-eight Taiwanese EFL college freshmen were randomly selected and assigned into the mastery-oriented and the combined mastery- and performance-oriented groups. Results indicated that two…

Investigated the effect of near peer role models (NPRMs). Examined the impact of a video with four exemplary, slightly older Japanese NPRMs in a Japanese English department--who were expressing beliefs and attitudes thought to facilitate second language acquisition--on non-English majors in obligatory English courses. Results show students'…

Provides insight into what pre-service teachers think about their own reading, their future responsibility as teachers of English-as-a-foreign-language reading, and about the effectiveness of the education they have been receiving. Findings suggest that they believe good reading teachers should be good readers, who read along with their students.…

Japanese university students had the choice of pair taping--a fluency practice in which learners record themselves speaking freely in pairs--for an equivalent amount of time as their once a week English class. Results from self reports showed that learners who chose pair taping (73) over remaining in class (n=28) reported increases in ease of…

Students in the English Language Teaching Department at Cukurova University (Turkey) were asked about their preferences for learning English. Teachers working with these students were asked about the extent of their awareness of their students' learning preferences. Data suggest the need for closer cooperation between students and teachers in how…