Presents the case for using chat (synchronous online communication) in the language classroom from the point of view of a teacher with positive experiences and a balanced awareness of the potential of the medium. Discuses how to integrate chat in language learning, examines the advantages and disadvantages of chat to the language learner, and…

Explores dilemmas posed in the design of strategy instruction (SI) for adults learning a range of languages in a distance learning context. Recent approaches to SI are reviewed and attempts to resolve the issues are described. (Author/VWL)

Presents findings of an intervention designed to examine the effects of affective strategy instruction on measures of second language (L2) proficiency and self-efficacy. One group of adult English-as-a-Second-Language learners received affective strategy training; a second served as a comparison group. Data from self-report questionnaires and…

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…

Reviews empirical research on vocabulary learning strategies in a second/foreign language. A tetrahedral model of person, task, context, and strategies is first proposed to foreground the review. Next, empirical research along task, person, and contextual dimensions is reviewed. Specifically, the review focuses on task-dependent guessing…

The purpose of this study was to shed light on the issue of strategy training in second language learning. Investigated the effect of metacognitive strategy training through the use of explicit strategy instruction on the development of lexical knowledge of English-as-a-Foreign-Language students. (Author/VWL)

Examines the composing process and writing strategies of three lower proficiency Japanese subjects in their first language (L1) and second language (L2). Found that while some L1 strategies may transfer to the L2 writing processes, lower proficiency writers struggle in utilizing all strategies that could help their writing process in the L2.…

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…

Describes a cross-cultural e-mail project implemented to provide a group of English-as-a-Foreign-Language teachers in Taiwan with he opportunity to interact with bilingual/English-as-a-Second-Language pre-service teachers in the United States. Analyses of the e-mail entries revealed that the Taiwanese participants obtained from their U.S. partners…

Highlights a webquest, or an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet. Highlights the structure of a webquest, discusses producing a webquest, and provides sample webquests. (Author/VWL)

Attempts to answer the need for more focused research on peer response among English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) students and the need to compare the findings with those of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students. Examines the nature of peer response in foreign language and second language writing of student populations in two different…

Focuses on the role of "noticing" and "noticing the gap" in second language acquisition. Argues that this notion has gained wide support on the basis of intuition and assumption rather than on findings of appropriate and exhaustive empirical research. Considers the theoretical constructs that underlie the role of noticing and assesses the validity…

Highlights the life of one Chinese English-as-a-Foreign-Language teacher who uses computer-mediated communication and the Internet to provide his students with communicative language experiences. (Author/VWL)

To achieve the goal of principled eclecticism (coherent, pluralistic language teaching), this article proposes principles for categorizing, selecting, and sequencing teaching and learning activities. Activities are categorized in relation to the two-dimensional model, four quadrants that result from the intersection of the dimensions of language…

Looks at how English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL). teachers might choose some aspects of second language acquisition research to apply in an adult ESL class and what information might be found in ESL textbooks to help. The method incorporates second language acquisition (SLA) research in a communicative classroom. (Author/VWL)