Semantic mapping was used to help English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) learners at a vocational trade school overcome their writing anxiety and generate ideas on paper. Semantic maps serve as a prewriting framework for brainstorming and organizing ideas. Semantic mapping can be used in many creative ways to help ESL students develop their writing…

Presents a lesson that introduces search engines to high intermediate-level English-as-a-Second-Language students in grades 6-12. Over several days, students learn how to use three search engines (infoseek, AltaVista, and Yahoo!) to search the Internet for information effectively. Students can work together online to create a customized list of…

Introduces the narrative approach to language teaching, which incorporates existing comprehension-based methods, but rather than focusing the syllabus on grammatical structures or thematically organized vocabulary, focuses on interesting and comprehensible stories. Students' natural interest in and familiarity with narratives makes storytelling a…

Discusses the benefits of creative drama techniques to teach elementary level English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students, describing a five-day plan used in one ESL program for preparing students to enact story events. Drama in the ESL classroom pushes students to use language in ways that differ from ordinary classroom exchanges as they recreate…

Five articles present tips for rallying English-as-a-Second-Language students to the enterprise of creating context, tools, and language itself. The articles focus on using original dramas created by students, teaching nonnative English-speaking medical students to comprehend their patients' colloquial language, conducting research with native…

Five ideas for English-as-a-Second-Language classroom activities are described, including a geography pronunciation drill, a project in which students design retail stores, a real-life business role-playing exercise, student-designed coats of arms, and use of prizes for student motivation, followed by prize-related assignments. (MSE)

By encouraging English-as-a-Second-Language learners to keep a daily word calendar, teachers can tap into their need for success by helping them keep a visible count of their growing vocabulary. Describes how to prepare and fill-in word calendars, use them in classroom activities, and conduct extension exercises. Sample student word calendars are…

Using games to determine students' feelings and attitudes toward their language learning can help build group trust and air possible problems. Presents some well-known games that are adapted to find out more about what students think ("Find Someone Who...,""Prove It!," and "What Are You Good At?"). Game variations and teacher training adaptations…

Describes an exercise to help advanced English-as-a-Second-Language students learn to edit their writing and stick to word limits. The paper explains how to set the word-limit parameters (limiting writing to 100 words), encourage self-editing, define the criteria of the assignment at the outset, and build a layering process. (SM)

Five teachers of English as a Second Language describe activities used in their classrooms, including topical student journals in an intensive language course; current events journals; postcard-writing to promote authentic, communicative expression; student-designed bumper stickers; and a fashion show to teach adjective use. (MSE)

Graduate students in an English-as-a-Second-Language education program at the University of Maryland were surveyed concerning suggested methods for incorporating languages other than English into the curriculum in a multicultural classroom. Respondents were master's and doctoral students from a variety of language backgrounds. The article details…

Oral history can be used to motivate English-as-Second-Language and bilingual students to study geography and history. The rationale for oral history approaches is described, ways to get started are offered, and excerpts from sample interviews are provided. (Contains 10 references.) (LB)

The commenting strategies were examined for three teacher educators using dialog journals in master's-level methodology and practicum courses. Four categories of responses, evaluations of quality responses, and guidelines for effective responses are presented. A sample journal exchange is included. (Contains five references.) (LB)

Seven articles on classroom icebreakers are compiled: "Picture Stories and Other Opportunities" (Joy Egbert, Deborah Hanley, Rosemary Delaney); "Hey, What's Your Name" (Janet Leamy); "Surprise!" (Lynne Burgess); "Memory Game" (Sally Winn); "Picturesque" (Margaret Beiter); "The Name Game" (Jeanne-Marie Garcia); "Exercise the Body--And the Mind…

Stories are recounted about students enrolled in an intermediate level intensive English program at a university. The stories show how classroom pedagogy can transform students' negative perceptions about their abilities and result in their empowerment as writers. (Contains six references.) (LB)