English as a second language / [edited by] David J. Alonso.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Alonso, David J.

Series:

Languages and linguistics series.

Education in a competitive and globalizing world series.

Languages and linguistics.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

English language--Study and teaching--Foreign speakers.

English language.

Second language acquisition.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (208 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Nova Science Publishers, c2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

English as a Second Language (ESL) education has gained an increasingly important role in career development in science, business, and industry on the global stage. This book presents research in the study of ESL, including brain plasticity and phonetic training in ESL.

Contents:

Intro

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

CONTENTS

PREFACE

Chapter 1 BRAIN PLASTICITY AND PHONETIC TRAINING FOR ENGLISH-AS-A-SECOND-LANGUAGE LEARNERS

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

1. NEURAL COMMITMENT: THE PROFOUND EFFECTS OF LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE

1.1. Two Basic Perceptual Phenomena

1.2. Effects of Linguistic Experience

1.3. ESL Learning Under the Influence of Native-Language-Neural-Commitment

1.4. The Role of Phonetic Learning in Language Acquisition

1.5. Relationship between Speech Perception and Production

2. NEUROPLASTICITY: THE ABILITY FOR THE BRAIN TO REINVENT ITSELF IN LANGUAGE LEARNING

2.1. Phonetic Training: Methods, Findings and Remaining Issues

2.2. Imaging and Neural Markers of Plasticity

3. FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE: SOFTWARE SHOWCASE TOWARDS OPTIMIZATION OF PHONETIC TRAINING

3.1. The /R-L/ Training Software

3.2. SAT (Speech Assessment and Training Program): New Software Development for ESL Learners

4. IMPLICATIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR RESEARCH AND ESL EDUCATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

REFERENCES

Chapter 2 EXPLORING THE EFFECTS OF SIMILAR AND SAME TASK REPETITION ON LEARNERS' SECOND LANGUAGE PRAGMATIC PROFICIENCY

STRUCTURED INPUT TASK

TASK DEMAND

INPUT-BASED INTERVENTION STUDIES OF L2 PRAGMATICS ACQUISITION

THE PRESENT STUDY

Participants

Target Structures

Instructional Treatments

Testing Instruments and Procedures

RELIABILITY

Validity

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

NOTE

APPENDIX: EXAMPLES OF REFERENTIAL AND AFFECTIVE ORIENTED ACTIVITIES

Chapter 3 IMPROVING ASIAN STUDENTS' TEXT COMPREHENSION AND INTERPRETATION THROUGH READER RESPONSE

READER RESPONSE THEORIES

TEXTUAL THEORIES OF RESPONSE

EXPERIENTIAL THEORIES OF RESPONSE.

PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF RESPONSE

SOCIAL THEORIES OF RESPONSE

CULTURAL THEORIES OF RESPONSE

RESEARCH ON LITERATURE-BASED INSTRUCTION

CURRENT TRENDS IN LITERATURE-BASED RESEARCH

Interpretation Over Comprehension

A Variety of Disciplines

A Broadened Literary Canon

IMPLICATIONS FOR LITERACY EDUCATION

The Use of Culturally Congruent Literature

Children's Literature for Adult Literacy Education

Children's Books Cited

Chapter 4 USING AUTHENTIC NEWSPAPER TEXTS IN TEACHING INTERMEDIATE VOCABULARY

Importance of Vocabulary Acquisition in ESL/EFL

Authentic vs. Pedagogical Materials in ELT

Textbooks in ELT

Authentic Materials in ELT

METHODOLOGY

The Participants of the Study

Research Design

Instruments

Instructional Procedure

The First Week

The Second Week

The Third Week

Data Analysis

RESEARCH RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Evaluation of Research Results

Implications and Suggestions for Further Study

Chapter 5 SPEAK THE REAL: NEWS ARTICLES AS MAJOR SOURCE FOR ORAL COMPETENCE

Process

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Chapter 6 EFL/ESL TEACHING IN CHINA: QUESTIONS - QUESTIONS - QUESTIONS#

1. WHY SHOULD 1.3 BILLION CHINESE LEARN ENGLISH?

2. HOW CAN EFL/ESL TEACHING IN CHINA BE CALLED A SUCCESS?

The Kindergarten Experience

The Middle School Experience

The College Experience

3. IS EFL/ESL TEACHING IN CHINA A CASE OF THE BLIND LEADING THE BLIND?

4. CAN ANYONE REALLY BE EXPECTED TO ACQUIRE ENGLISH IN THIS HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT?

5. WHAT IS THE CHINESE ENGLISH STUDENT'S FAVORITE WINE?.

6. IS IT INEVITABLE THAT ALTHOUGH WE TEACH THEM ENGLISH, THEY WILL LEARN CHINGLISH?

7. WHAT'S IN A NAME?

8. WHAT IS WORSE: STUDENTS WHO CHEAT THE SYSTEM OR A SYSTEM THAT CHEATS THE STUDENTS?

Chapter 7 IMPROVING READING SKILLS FOR ESL LEARNERS USING SOUNDSPEL#

METHOD

Design

Materials and Apparatus

Procedure

Tests

Training

AUTHOR NOTES

APPENDIX A. EXCERPT OF SOUNDSPEL VERSION OF A PASSAGE USED IN THE EXPERIMENT

APPENDIX B. PRELIMINARY EXPERIMENT

APPENDIX C. PASSAGE READ ALOUD BY PARTICIPANTS LEARNING SOUNDSPEL SYSTEM

INDEX

Blank Page.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-61122-613-9

OCLC:

730517907