This second edition of Thai: An Essential Grammar provides an up-to-date and concise reference guide to Thai grammar. Using clear, jargon-free explanations, it sets out the complexities of Thai in short, readable sections and presents an accessible description of the language. Focus is kept on the real patterns of use today and grammar forms are demonstrated through a wide range of relevant examples. No prior knowledge is assumed on the part of the reader. Features include: Coverage of crucial topics, such as sentence particles, negation, questions and quantification Examples given in both Thai script and romanised transliteration Pronunciation section Guidance on speech conventions and the Thai writing system Glossary of grammatical terms Two appendices covering Romanisation systems and three key verbs Bibliography This unique reference work will prove invaluable to all learners looking to master the grammar of Thai. It is ideal either for independent study or for students in schools, colleges, universities and adult classes of all types.

This collection offers a critical examination of online language teacher education programs (OLTE), looking at a range of issues which have informed their development and the challenges and opportunities in their implementation from a TESOL perspective. Positioning itself uniquely amongst the growing literature at the nexus of technology and language learning, the book focuses on language teacher education programs designed for academic and professional credentials in online environments. Introductory sections provide a brief historical overview of the OLTEs as we know them today, with examples from a global range of programs toward demonstrating their theoretical and philosophical foundations. The second section of the book explores the paradigm shifts borne out of OLTE in the modes, media, and tasks employed and their subsequent impact on instructional efficacy. Subsequent chapters turn a critical lens on OLTE in raising questions around accessibility its implementation in less technologically developed environments, issues of quality measures and accreditation, and practicum concerns. Taken together, this collection is a state of the art of online language teacher education programs and lays the groundwork for future research on the nexus of online education, teacher education, and applied linguistics.

This book presents a view of human language as social interaction, illustrating its implications for language learning and second language teaching. // The volume advocates for researchers, practitioners, and administrators to rethink and reconceptualize an understanding of language beyond that of the written word to one encompassing social and interactional activity built on co-construction, collaboration, and negotiation. The book emphasizes the ways in which this view of language can shed light on the language learning process as one which draws on discrete linguistic units and constructions in conjunction with a range of temporal, sequential, and embodied resources across a variety of social contexts. In turn, these insights prompt further reflection and discussion on their implications for advancing second language teaching practice. // This book will be key reading for scholars interested in second language teaching research, as well as active second language teachers and language program administrators.

* explores a way of teaching Chinese culture to Chinese language students (in particular, students' intercultural competence) in a non-Chinese environment. * It will appeal to researchers in applied linguistics, Chinese pedagogy and ICT teaching in general * for pre-service teachers at graduate level in research methodology and curriculum design

Modern Japanese Grammar: A Practical Guide is an innovative reference guide to Japanese, combining traditional and function-based grammar in a single volume.

The "Grammar" is divided into two parts. Part A covers traditional grammatical categories such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, particles, topic, honorifics, etc. Part B is carefully organised around language functions covering all major communication situations such as:

• Initiating and ending a conversation
• Seeking and giving factual information
• Expressing gratitude, likes and dislikes
• Making requests and asking for permission and advice

With a strong emphasis on contemporary usage, all grammar points and functions are richly illustrated throughout with examples written both in Romanization and Japanese script (a mixture of "hiragana, katakana," and "kanji.)"

Main features of the "Grammar" include:

• Clear, succinct and jargon-free explanations
• Extensive cross-referencing between the different sections
• Emphasis on areas of particular difficulty for learners of Japanese

Both as a reference grammar and as a practical usage manual, "Modern Japanese Grammar: A Practical Guide" is the ideal resource for learners of Japanese at all levels, from beginner to intermediate and advanced students. No prior knowledge of grammatical terminology or Japanese script is required and a glossary of grammatical terms is provided.

This "Grammar" is accompanied by the "Modern Japanese Grammar Workbook" (ISBN 978-0-415-27093-9) which features related exercises and activities.

'Everything about [this] book, which combines a healthy dose of lucid neuroscience with a dash of sensitive personal narrative, delights ... a beautifully balanced piece of popular-science writing' Boyd Tonkin, Independent 'For people interested in language, this is a must. You'll find yourself focusing on words in new ways. Read it slowly - it will take time to sink in.'William Leith, Sunday Telegraph 'An inspiring celebration of the science of reading.' P.D. Smith, Guardian 'We were never born to read', says Maryanne Wolf. 'No specific genes ever dictated reading's development. Human beings invented reading only a few thousand years ago. And with this invention, we changed the very organisation of our brain, which in turn expanded the ways we were able to think, which altered the intellectual evolution of our species.' In "Proust and the Squid", Maryanne Wolf explores our brains' near-miraculous ability to arrange and re-arrange themselves in response to external circumstances. She examines how this 'open architecture', the elasticity of our brains, helps and hinders humans in their attempts to learn to read, and to process the written language. She also investigates what happens to people whose brains make it difficult to acquire these skills, such as those with dyslexia. Wolf, a world expert on the reading brain, brings both a personal passion and deft style to this, the story of the reading brain. It is a pop science masterpiece on a subject that anyone who loves reading will be sure to find fascinating.

Goliath tarantulas are the most enormous spiders in the world. Most people consider them to be extremely dangerous and avoid them, but not tarantula expert Rick West. He seeks out tarantulas because he has an important story to tell. What information does West want to share with the world? Are tarantulas as dangerous as people think?

* Focuses exclusively on Learning by Design and all the theoretical and pedagogical aspects pertaining to it * Provides an in-depth picture of the significance of this pedagogy for L2 learning through the establishment of connections between L2 students' needs and the principles and tenets of the framework. * Bridges theory and practice and incorporates tools and instructional resources that can be used at different levels of instruction (i.e., elementary, high school, and university L2 classes).

* Focuses exclusively on Learning by Design and all the theoretical and pedagogical aspects pertaining to it * Provides an in-depth picture of the significance of this pedagogy for L2 learning through the establishment of connections between L2 students' needs and the principles and tenets of the framework. * Bridges theory and practice and incorporates tools and instructional resources that can be used at different levels of instruction (i.e., elementary, high school, and university L2 classes).

Routledge Handbook of Descriptive Rhetorical Studies and World Languages offers a useful collection of papers that present rhetorical analysis of the discoursal practice in different cultural settings. Covering issues from America to Europe and Asia, and topics from politics to media, education to science, agriculture to literature and so on, the handbook offers something to everyone interested in knowing how language works to guide listeners' interpretations, alter their perceptions and shape their worldviews. The outcome will be a huge number of publications describing the rhetorical conventions and innovations in many walks of life in the global setting. Eventually, a body of knowledge and theory about rhetoric will be formed as a result of increasingly pervasive descriptive rhetorical studies around the globe. The end result is a knowledge database, a solid foundation for rhetorical studies to become an essential discipline in arts and humanities from which to develop formidable theory and applications in areas such as linguistics, literature, history, cultural studies, political science, and sociology. This handbook will be crucial for students and researchers in areas such as literature and linguistics, communication studies, political science, and arts and humanities in general. This book will also be useful to social science, educational, business, law, science and engineering departments, due to its coverage of rhetoric in a multidisciplinary and multilingual context.

- Leading edge research in the rapidly expanding field of CALL. - Address a hot topic area: incorporating digital worlds/VR into language learning classes. - The authors have a strong publication record in this field of study. - Book comes with recommended further resources to maximise positive emotions during language learning.

Intermediate Russian provides a reference grammar and related exercises in one volume. Varied texts from Russian sources give an insight into contemporary Russian society and culture. Features include:
* texts and exercises reflecting contemporary Russian
* concise grammar explanations
* full exercise key
* detailed index.
Intermediate Russian, and its sister volume, Basic Russian, are ideal both for independent study and use in class. Together the books provide a compendium of the essentials of Russian grammar.

A delightful and courageous tale and a romping good read. Voila Mark Greenside, author of I ll Never Be French (No Matter What I Do)William Alexander is more than a Francophile. He wants to be French. To sip absinthe at the window of a dark cafe, a long scarf wrapped around his neck, a copy of Le Monde at hand. Among the things that have stood in his way of becoming French, though, is the fact that he can t actually speak the language. So Alexander sets out to conquer the language he loves. Readers will find out if it loves him back.Alexander eats, sleeps, and dreams French. (He even conjugates in his dreams.) And while he s playing hooky from grammar lessons and memory techniques, he travels to France, delves into the colorful history of the French language and the science of linguistics, and even goes to Google to find out what s taking them so long to perfect translation software. Finally, he contemplates how it can be that in French, breasts are masculine and beards are feminine, and tries to make sense of idioms like c est la fin des haricots (it s the end of the beans) which means, appropriately enough, it s hopeless. But ca ne fait rien (No matter ) What Bill Alexander learns while not learning French is its own reward. A blend of passion and neuroscience, this literary love affair offers surprise insights into the human brain and the benefits of learning a second language. Reading William Alexander s book is akin to having an MRI of the soul. Laura Shaine Cunningham, author of Sleeping Arrangements Alexander proves that learning a new language is an adventure of its own--with all the unexpected obstacles, surprising breakthroughs and moments of sublime pleasure traveling brings. Julie Barlow, author of Sixty Million Frenchmen Can t Be Wrong "

This volume reconsiders the problem of context in language testing and other modes of assessment from the perspective of transdisciplinarity. Transdisciplinary assessment research brings together collaborators who draw on the strengths of their differing backgrounds and expertise in order to address high-stakes complex socially-relevant problems. Traditional treatments of context in language assessment research have generally been informed by individualist cognitive theories within measurement and psychometrics. The additive potential of alternative social theories, including theories of genre, situated learning, distributed cognition, and intercultural communication, has largely been overlooked. In this book, the benefits of socio-theoretical reconsiderations of context are discussed and further exemplified in transdisciplinary research studies that investigate the use of assessment in classroom and workplace settings. The book offers a renewed view of context in arguments for the validity of assessment practices, and will be of interest to assessment researchers, practitioners, and students in applied linguistics, education, educational psychology, language testing, and other related disciplines and fields.

The ultimate quick and easy guide to learning Polish

Polish can be a difficult language to master. It is pronounced phonetically and has several unique characters in its alphabet, but with "Polish For Dummies" in hand, you'll find yourself speaking like a local in no time. Packed with practical lessons, handy cultural facts, and essential references (including a Polish-English mini-dictionary and lists of common verbs), this guide is specially designed to get you speaking Polish with confidence. With advice on speaking Polish within the construction, teaching, and public sector industries, this book is a truly practical tool for anyone wanting to speak the language either professionally or socially.Includes sections dedicated to Polish in action, Polish on the go, and Polish in the workplaceA companion audio CD contains Polish conversations spoken by native Polish speakers in a variety of everyday contexts, perfect for learning Polish on the goA Polish-English dictionary is included to provide quick access to the most common words

With easy-to-follow instruction and exercises that give you the language to communicate during day-to-day experiences, readers of "Polish For Dummies" will learn the words and verbal constructions they need to communicate with friends and colleagues at home, find directions on holiday, and more.Note - CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of the e-book file, but are available for download after purchase.

The chief aim of this primer is to give the student, within one year of study, the ability to read ecclesiastical Latin. Collins includes the Latin of Jerome's Bible, of canon law, of the liturgy and papal bulls, of scholastic philosophers, and of the Ambrosian hymns, providing a survey of texts from the fourth century through the Middle Ages. An ""Answer Key"" to this edition is now available. Please see An Answer Key to A Primer of Ecclesiastical Latin, prepared by John Dunlap.

This state-of-the-art volume offers a comprehensive, accessible, and uniquely interdisciplinary examination of social factors' role in second language acquisition (SLA) through different theoretical paradigms, methodological traditions, populations, contexts, and language groups. Top scholars from around the world synthesize current and past work, contextualize the central issues, and set the future research agenda on second language variation, including languages studied or taught less commonly. This will be an indispensable resource to scholars and advanced students of SLA, applied linguistics, education, and other fields interested in the social aspects of language learning in research practice and instruction.

Language learning is easy with Dummies Brazilian Portuguese For Dummies can help you achieve your goals of learning another language. Traveling to Brazil? Taking a class in school? Want to meet people and pick up a new hobby? Just curious about the sixth most spoken language in the world? We've got you covered, with easy-to-follow lessons on the basics, plus phrases and topics you need to know, like greetings, travel phrases, business phrases, numbers and measurements, and social media. Add speaking Portuguese to the long list of cool things you can do--with the help of Brazilian Portuguese For Dummies. Start from the beginning and learn the very basics of Brazilian Portuguese Practice authentic phrases for travel, business, and communicating online Perfect your pronunciation with bonus audio tracks, and discover fun facts about Brazilian culture Get recommendations for movies, travel tips, and more Whether you're studying Portuguese for business, school, or pleasure, Dummies is the best guide for getting started with this beautiful language.

Specifically designed for students of Arabic, this fully illustrated rendition of the Arabic literary classic enhances students' reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills through the medium of these fun, engaging, and culturally relevant tales. The first part of this second edition follows the original order of the stories, with new vocabulary explained in footnotes throughout. In the second part, grammar explanations and a wealth of exercises provide ample opportunities for readers to improve their understanding of the stories and strengthen their command of Arabic grammar and Arabic writing. The audio material, containing the texts of the stories read by native speakers, is available to download free online to help develop the learner's listening skills. Suitable for both class use and independent study, Kalila wa Dimna: for Students of Arabic is a must for all intermediate to advanced students wishing to enhance their language skills and discover one of the most popular pieces of Arabic literature ever written.

A handy cheat sheet of key Japanese grammar in a at-a-glance, easy-to-carry format! The Japanese Grammar Language Study Card is the perfect resource for reviewing the main grammar that frequently appears in the N5 or N4 Level Japanese Language Proficiency Exam or the AP Exam. The compact, portable format is invaluable for anyone wanting to quickly review or expand their knowledge of everyday Japanese sentence and verb forms. This study card includes: Overview of basic sentence structure Key verb forms including plain and polite forms How to use sentence particles correctly How to make questions How to use pronouns The grammar points are clearly organized into color-coded sections. Each section has a concise explanation in English followed by examples given in Japanese script and romanized Japanese with English translation. Free online audio recordings by native speakers provide clear and accurate pronunciations for all the Japanese words and sentences, and Hiragana and Katakana alphabet charts are also included! Designed for convenience, this study card is: Laminated: to hold up over time and avoid being ruined by coffee spills 3 hole punched: giving the option to put it in a binder 8.5x11 inches: to easily fit into a folder or notebook alongside other study materials

This book provides insights for both native language teachers and local language teachers alike who conduct team-taught lessons by revisiting the topic of foreign assistant language teachers (ALTs), the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program, and team teaching. This book is innovative in that (a) it is the first to elucidate ALTs' experiences comprehensively, across both historical time (i.e., prior to, during, and after the JET program) and social space (i.e., inside and outside the school), thereby revealing their multiple identities that they come to construct and reconstruct over time, and (b) it explores the meanings and perspectives of particular phenomena that ALTs experience within their specific social settings from their own individual points of view. This inquiry does this by using personal narrative accounts gathered from multiple participants. Through these narrative accounts, Hiratsuka formulates a conceptualization of ALT identity, an effort that has hitherto been neglected. As a consequence, this book offers several practical and empirical applications of the conceptualization to future endeavors involving native language teachers and those who engage with them, including the key stakeholders of local language teachers, their local boards of education, the governments, and language learners across the globe.

Each chapter includes a sequence of activities followed by a final project and a test in which language skills are assessed. This design is suitable for use in teacher-led, blended, and online instructional environments, as well as by independent learners. Provides instructional strategies for effectively meeting student needs, such as moving from nonlinguistic to linguistic output, moving from words to sentences to connected discourse, breaking down a task into manageable subtasks, and allowing for ample preparation and planning. With each activity are recommendations for which technology to select with a step-by-step explanation to guide its use and enhance the activity's pedagogical effectiveness.