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1. Misconception Analysis: A Necessary Complement to Foreign Language Teaching

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article draws on findings from cognitive psychology that emphasize learners and their learning needs. The author proposes a solution for dealing with language learning problems, called misconception analysis (MA). The article explains MA, its usefulness, and language classroom applications. The author classifies misconceptions about language learning into four groups: misconceptions about the goals of language learning, the nature of language, the processes and strategies of language learning, and language elements.

2. Meeting Learners' Academic Needs

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   This article suggests that language teachers can learn from the ideas of educators who work outside the field of language teaching. The author examines learner needs and discusses how the they can be met in his teaching context. The learner needs addressed in this article are the need to feel secure and important, the need to understand the learning goals, the need for time to integrate learning, the need to understand the learning process, and the need to receive feedback.

3. An Investigation of the Effectiveness of Teaching Pronunciation to Malaysian TEFL Students

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article examines the benefits of pronunciation instruction for young adult language learners. It reports findings from a study in which pronunciation training was implemented into a university-level EFL speaking and listening course. The study found that students claimed to have benefitted from both the top-down approach and the bottom-up approach. This article endorses the value of pronunciation training using both segmental and suprasegmental instruction, and addressing oral production and aural comprehension.

4. Determining Students' Language Needs in a Tertiary Setting

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses students' perceptions of their language learning needs. It describes a survey conducted among university students and professors to find out how students rated their competence in particular skills and compares the results to those of their English teachers. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with the students, English teachers, and program directors. This needs analysis project helped to update the university English department curriculum and course offerings.

5. Statistics and Research Design: Essential Concepts for Working Teachers

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article presents key concepts for teachers seeking to understand statistical reasoning and research design. First the author establishes that one must understand what is being defined and how. The author then defines useful terms such as variable and average and illustrates them with real-world examples. The article concludes by presenting simple tips for understanding and using statistics appropriately, relating both to classroom teaching and research design using quantitative data.

6. English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 4

   Format(s): Text

   Featured in this issue are an interview with Diane Larsen-Freeman, and articles on storytelling, assessment of young learners, information gaps for communication, and Texas.

7. The Joy of Watching Others Learn: An Interview with Diane Larsen-Freeman

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   This interview shares insights from Diane Larsen-Freeman, who has written numerous books and articles on language teaching methodology, second language acquisition, English grammar, and teacher education. It touches on topics including Larsen-Freeman's beginning in EFL, advice for new teachers, Larsen-Freeman's teaching methodology books, and her views on the state of English language teaching and its future.

8. Deep Impact Storytelling

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   The authors discuss the importance of storytelling for giving a course depth. They outline ways to help teachers deepen the impact of storytelling through language and thinking activities that include shadowing, summarizing, student retelling, action logging, and creating newsletters. The authors include a story split into assigned readings and sequenced homework and classroom activities. They found that using these activities increases student comprehension, negotiation of meaning, and feelings of community.

9. Information Gap in Communicative Classrooms

   In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   The author argues that exchanges in the classroom must go beyond display questions and should be based on the information gap that occurs when one speaker does not know in advance what the other is going to say. The author provides examples of information gap activities to promote a communicative classroom. Activity types include practical situations, guessing games, role plays, opinion gap activities, and reasoning gap activities. The author argues that these activities have real communicative value.

10. Texas: The Lone Star State

    In: English Teaching Forum 2001, Volume 39, Number 4 Format(s): Text

    This article gives an introduction to the state of Texas. It begins by outlining the history of Texas, from colonization through statehood. Present geography and a description of east, west, south, and north Texas are also described. Additional websites for further reading are provided. The article is appropriate for intermediate English learners with an interest in various regions of the United States.

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