Comprehension of texts and understanding of questions is a cornerstone of successful human communication. Whilst reading comprehension has been thoroughly investigated in the last decade, there is surprisingly little research on children’s comprehension of picture stories, particularly for bilinguals. This can be partially explained by the lack of cross-culturally robust, cross-linguistic instruments targeting early narration. This book presents an inference-based model of narrative comprehension and a tool that grew out of a large-scale European project on multilingualism. Covering a range of language settings, the book uses the Multilingual Assessment Instrument for Narratives to answer the question which narrative comprehension skills (bilingual) children can be expected to master at a certain age, and explores how such comprehension is affected (or not affected) by linguistic and extra-linguistic factors. Linking theory to method, the book will appeal to researchers in linguistics and psychology and graduate students interested in narrative, multilingualism, and language acquisition.
This Framework has been widely adopted in setting curriculum standards, designing courses, developing materials and in assessment and certification. This compendium of case studies is written by authors who have a considerable and varied experience of using the Framework in their professional context. The aim is to help readers develop their understanding of the Framework and its possible uses in different sectors of education.
Diese Einführung in englischer Sprache präsentiert in 14 Kapiteln die grundlegenden Themen und Gegenstandsbereiche der Englischdidaktik. Gleichermaßen praxisnah wie theoretisch fundiert, behandelt der Band zentrale Prinzipien und Kompetenzbereiche eines modernen Fremdsprachenunterrichts. Ausgehend von den zentralen Akteur/innen (Lehrende und Lernende) und mit Blick auf die Teilbereiche der Sprach-, Literatur- und Kulturdidaktik werden zudem Vorschläge für den Einsatz unterschiedlicher Materialien und Medien diskutiert. Weitere Kapitel widmen sich den institutionellen Organisationsstrukturen und dem Bereich Assessment/Diagnose. Der Band erscheint in zweifarbiger Gestaltung, mit Definitionen und Beispielen sowie mit zahlreichen Abbildungen. This comprehensive introduction presents the fundamental topics and issues of TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) in 14 chapters. Integrating both profound theoretical and creative practical considerations, the central principles and competence domains of modern foreign language teaching are discussed. Starting with the main classroom agents (teachers and learners), the chapters outline a variety of content areas (language, literature, cultural issues) and thoroughly review materials, media and methods. Additional chapters are concerned with the historical development of English language teaching, its current institutional organisation as well as assessment and evaluation.
This book helps "students to master the standard organizational patterns of the paragraph and the basic concepts of essay writing. The text's time-proven approach integrates the study of rhetorical patterns and the writing process with extensive practice in sentence structure and mechanics." - product description.
This Handbook provides a comprehensive treatment of basic and more advanced research methodologies in applied linguistics and offers a state-of-the-art review of methods particular to various domains within the field. Arranged thematically in 4 parts, across 41 chapters, it covers a range of research approaches, presents current perspectives, and addresses key issues in different research methods, such as designing and implementing research instruments and techniques, and analysing different types of applied linguistics data. Innovations, challenges and trends in applied linguistics research are examined throughout the Handbook. As such it offers an up-to-date and highly accessible entry point into both established and emerging approaches that will offer fresh possibilities and perspectives as well as thorough consideration of best practices. This wide-ranging volume will prove an invaluable resource to applied linguists at all levels, including scholars in related fields such as language learning and teaching, multilingualism, corpus linguistics, critical discourse analysis, discourse analysis and pragmatics, language assessment, language policy and planning, multimodal communication, and translation.
This guide for teachers and teacher trainees provides a wealth of suggestions for helping learners at all levels of proficiency develop their listening and speaking skills and fluency, using a framework based on principles of teaching and learning. By following these suggestions, which are organised around four strands—meaning-focused input, meaning-focused output, language-focused learning, and fluency development—teachers will be able to design and present a balanced programme for their students. Updated with cutting-edge research and theory, the second edition of Teaching ESL/EFL Listening and Speaking retains its hands-on focus and engaging format, and features new activities and information on emerging topics, including: Two new chapters on Extensive Listening and Teaching Using a Course Book Expanded coverage of key topics, including assessment, pronunciation, and using the internet to develop listening and speaking skills Easy-to-implement tasks and suggestions for further reading in every chapter More tools for preservice teachers and teacher trainers, such as a sample unit, a "survival syllabus", and topic prompts The second edition of this bestselling book is an essential text for all Certificate, Diploma, Masters, and Doctoral courses for teachers of English as a second or foreign language.
Far off the coast of California looms a harsh rock known as the island of San Nicholas. Dolphins flash in the blue waters around it, sea otter play in the vast kep beds, and sea elephants loll on the stony beaches. Here, in the early 1800s, according to history, an Indian girl spent eighteen years alone, and this beautifully written novel is her story. It is a romantic adventure filled with drama and heartache, for not only was mere subsistence on so desolate a spot a near miracle, but Karana had to contend with the ferocious pack of wild dogs that had killed her younger brother, constantly guard against the Aleutian sea otter hunters, and maintain a precarious food supply. More than this, it is an adventure of the spirit that will haunt the reader long after the book has been put down. Karana's quiet courage, her Indian self-reliance and acceptance of fate, transform what to many would have been a devastating ordeal into an uplifting experience. From loneliness and terror come strength and serenity in this Newbery Medal-winning classic.
