Students increase their listening comprehension through readalouds from rich, authentic texts, with stories and informational selections by award-winning authors and illustrators.

The comprehension, retention and production of idiomatic expressions is one of the most difficult areas of the lexicon for second language (L2) learners, even very advanced students, to master. This book investigates this under-researched and interesting aspect of language acquisition, shedding light on both conventional uses of idiomatic expressions as well as creative variant forms. The chapters in the book delve into different aspects of idiomatic mastery: students' comprehension of canonically used idioms in both their first and second language; the effects of multimedia and visualization techniques on learners' comprehension and retention of L2 idioms; students' misinterpretations of L2 idioms; L2 learners' comprehension of creative idiom variants and their use of idioms in free composition writing.

Apart from being absolutely invaluable for those seeking admission into the prized portals of Foreign Universities, this book will also be of immense benefit to students of various Management Courses. Competitive Exams for entry into professional colleges and other institutes of repute within the country. It will also help hone their analytical qualities and enhance their writing skills. In fact, one of the most important criteria for being successful in securing admission to top ranking and reputed Universities abroad, especially in the United States, is the high level of scores obtained in international tests such as GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, etc. These tests include the all-important component of analytical writing tasks on given issues. These apart, prospective students are also required to pen excellent essays on specific topics chosen by the Universities concerned. It is through a critical appraisal of these essays that the selection committee of the concerned College or University is able to effectively gauge the applicants and gain valuable insight into their academic standing and intellectual prowess. Therefore, the vital importance of clear and critical thinking, analytical abilities, and good essay writing cannot be over-emphasized. This book attempts to thoroughly familiarise the student with the art and skills involved in writing effective essays by exposing him to a wide variety of Model Essays on diverse topics. Also Model Responses to a wide spectrum of Analytical Issues with special reference to the requirements of the International Tests mentioned above are offered.

For all educators grades 3 and up, here is a proven, ready-to-use resource that lets you easily tailor writing experiences to the needs of any student having difficulty writing -- even your most reluctant writer!

Starting with simple written words and progressing to sentences, paragraphs, and reports, Let's Write! takes into account all ability levels and learning styles to help each student achieve success. Basic to more advanced skills are presented sequentially in lessons that devote small amounts of time to four diverse tasks.

For example, one lesson of moderate difficulty might ask students to do the following: Write a list of things that can fly. Write a paragraph about your favorite meal. Play a game that involves pantomiming verbs. Listen to a read-aloud like The Education of Little Tree.
Sequential presentation of the skills needed for writing helps students become successful right from the start of their program, and spending smaller amounts of time on diverse tasks engages students with attention issues.

The program gives you over 200 activities and over 110 worksheets, all printed in a big 8 1/4" x 11" spiral-bound format that folds flat for easy photocopying of any page as many times as needed. It is organized into two parts:

PART 1 focuses on teaching the basic structures of written language in seven sections: for example, Words ("A Category Game"), Sentences ("Write It with Nouns"), Paragraphs ("A 'What If' Paragraph"), Research Reports ("Write About Amazing Facts"), Book Reports ("Write a Testimonial"), Stories ("Five-Object Find"), and Essays ("Political Topics").

PART 2 offers a combination of specific skills development and opportunities forpractice in nine sections: for example, Grammar ("Search and Destroy"), Editing ("Find My Mistakes"), Poetry ("A Poem Full of Lies"), Literature Connection ("Animal Questions"), Holidays ("A Holiday From Another Culture"), Letters ("Hello Human"), Using the Newspaper ("Dear Gertrude"), Real Life Writing ("A Job Application"), and Gimmicks & Gags ("Write It with a Ridiculous Interview").

What's more, two appendices provide countless ideas for word, phrase, and sentence lists, plus suggestions for read-aloud and other books for use with students.

In short, Let's Write! gives you a tested sequential program for meeting the special needs of all of your students who are reluctant writers. It will help you turn a task that may now be overwhelming and agonizing for your students into a joyful and satisfying activity.

Academics Writing recounts how academic writing is changing in the contemporary university, transforming what it means to be an academic and how, as a society, we produce academic knowledge. Writing practices are changing as the academic profession itself is reconfigured through new forms of governance and accountability, increasing use of digital resources, and the internationalisation of higher education. Through detailed studies of writing in the daily life of academics in different disciplines and in different institutions, this book explores: the space and time of academic writing; tensions between disciplines and institutions around genres of writing; the diversity of stances adopted towards the tools and technologies of writing, and towards engagement with social media; and the importance of relationships and collaboration with others, in writing and in ongoing learning in a context of constant change. Drawing out implications of the work for academics, university management, professional training, and policy, Academics Writing: The Dynamics of Knowledge Creation is key reading for anyone studying or researching writing, academic support, and development within education and applied linguistics.

This revised and updated edition of "Modern German Pronunciation" offers the most complete guide to the correct pronunciation of German for native speakers of English. It begins with an introduction to the problems of pronunciation and the basic concepts of phonetics. The following chapters take each aspect of pronunciation in turn: consonants, vowels, stress and intonation, and the conversational pronunciation of German with its many reduced or "weak" forms. The text is comprehensively illustrated with clear pronunciation and intonation diagrams and the emphasis is on the problems that speakers of English are known to encounter when learning to speak German. This second edition has been revised and updated, taking into account comments and suggestions from readers and adapting the German texts to the new official spelling. A significant new feature is the discussion of English-speaking learners of German has been extended to include American learners, reflecting the use world-wide of the first edition of this volume.

Ella Baker (1903-1986) was an influential African American civil rights and human rights activist. For five decades, she worked behind the scenes with people in vulnerable communities to catalyze social justice leadership. Her steadfast belief in the power of ordinary people to create change continues to inspire social justice activists around the world. This book describes a case study that translates Ella Baker's community engagement philosophy into a catalytic leadership praxis, which others can adapt for their work. Catalytic leadership is a concrete set of communication practices for social justice leadership produced in equitable partnership with, instead of on, communities. The case centers the voices of African American teenage girls who were living in a segregated neighborhood of an affluent college town and became part of a small collective of college students, parents, university faculty, and community activists learning leadership in the spirit of Ella Baker.

Do you want to develop a solid understanding of Esperanto and communicate confidently with others? Through authentic conversations, vocabulary building, grammar explanations, and extensive practice and review, Complete Esperanto will equip you with the practical skills you need to use modern Esperanto in a variety of realistic settings and situations, developing your cultural awareness along the way. What will I achieve by the end of the course? By the end of Complete Esperanto you will have a solid intermediate-level grounding in the four key skills - reading, writing, speaking, and listening - and be able to communicate with confidence and accuracy. Is this course for me? If you want to move confidently from beginner to intermediate level, this is the course for you. It's perfect for the self-study learner, with a one-on-one tutor, or for the beginner classroom. It can also be used as a refresher course. What do I get? -18 learning units plus verbs reference and word glossary and revision section -Discovery Method - figure out rules and patterns to make the language stick -Teaches the key skills - reading, writing, listening, and speaking -Learn to learn - tips and skills on how to be a better language learner -Culture notes - learn about modern Esperanto culture -Outcome-based learning - focus your studies with clear aims -Authentic listening activities - everyday conversations give you a flavour of real spoken Esperanto -Test Yourself - see and track your own progress *Complete Esperanto maps from Novice Low to Advanced Low level proficiency of ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) and from A1 Beginner to B1/B2 Upper Intermediate level of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) guidelines. Access the audio for this course for free by downloading it to the Teach Yourself Library app or streaming it on library.teachyourself.com. Rely on Teach Yourself, trusted by language learners for over 75 years.

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This book systematically examines how learning to read occurs in diverse languages, and in so doing, explores how literacy is learned in a second language by learners who have achieved at least basic reading skills in their first language. As a consequence of rapid globalization, such learners are a large and growing segment of the school population worldwide, and an increasing number of schools are challenged by learners from a wide variety of languages, and with distinct prior literacy experiences. To succeed academically these learners must develop second-language literacy skills, yet little is known about the ways in which they learn to read in their first languages, and even less about how the specific nature and level of their first-language literacy affects second-language reading development.

This volume provides detailed descriptions of five typologically diverse languages and their writing systems, and offers comparisons of learning-to-read experiences in these languages. Specifically, it addresses the requisite competencies in learning to read in each of the languages, how language and writing system properties affect the way children learn to read, and the extent and ways in which literacy learning experience in one language can play a role in subsequent reading development in another. Both common and distinct aspects of literacy learning experiences across languages are identified, thus establishing a basis for determining which skills are available for transfer in second-language reading development.

Learning to Read Across Languages is intended for researchers and advanced students in the areas of second-language learning, psycholinguistics, literacy, bilingualism, and cross-linguistic issues in language processing.

Develop your powers of public persuasion with the ultimate guide to great speeches and business presentations… Do you get tongue-tied at the mere thought of speaking in public? Would you rather swim with sharks or undergo a tax audit than face an audience? Well, you’re not alone. According to the Book of Lists’ list of humans’ greatest fears, the fear of death is our fourth greatest fear, while fear of public speaking commands a solid first place. Now from Roger E. Axtell, one of America’s most accomplished public speakers, here’s a book guaranteed to turn even the most stage-shy mumbler into a great communicator. Geared primarily, but not exclusively, for business people, this amusing and informative guide can show you how to possess the powers of public persuasion you’ve always dreamed of having. Whether it’s making a pitch to the board of directors, or prepping the sales force, stating your case to the town council, or being interviewed on live TV, Do’s and Taboos of Public Speaking can help you to be an intelligent, articulate, confident, and likable presence in front of any audience you’ll ever face.

• Surefire techniques for controlling fear, preparing for and organizing a business presentation or speech, using body language and humor, getting the most out of audio and audio/visual equipment, speaking in front of the camera, and much, much more
• Helpful hints from successful business speakers and such greats as Winston Churchill, Lee Iacocca, Red Barber, Roger Ailes, and Charles Osgood
• Special chapters on humor and roasts, speaking internationally, and even how to become a professional speaker

A step-by-step guide through the entire process of preparing and publishing high-quality technical manuals
The Complete Guide to Writing and Producing Technical Manuals shows the reader how to create clear, well-organized technical manuals for any equipment, simple or complex. Requiring no specialized background knowledge, this unique guide lays out all the aspects of the job--from initial concept to final publication. The author draws on more than twenty-five years' experience as a technician and technical writer to provide authoritative, easy-to-follow instructions on how to organize detailed technical information into a finished, high-quality technical manual.
Major topics include:
* Planning procedures for technical manuals
* Manual types and arrangements, including operation manuals, maintenance and repair instructions, illustrated parts lists, and more
* Layout and format, including sample page layouts
* Writing style and technical editing techniques
* Front matter and introductions
* Illustration and table preparation, including typical charts, diagrams, and illustrations
* Preparing camera-ready copy
* Printing and binding
* Organizing a technical handbook department
* And much more

Fully illustrated and supported by handy appendices and a glossary of technical terms, The Complete Guide to Writing and Producing Technical Manuals is an indispensable reference for all engineers, scientists, and technical writers who need to produce effective, professional technical manuals.

This book presents an overview of the wide variety of digital genres used by researchers to produce and communicate knowledge, perform new identities and evaluate research outputs. It explores the role of digital genres in the repertoires of genres used by local communities of researchers to communicate both locally and globally, both with experts and the interested public, and sheds light on the purposes for which researchers engage in digital communication and on the semiotic resources they deploy to achieve these purposes. The authors discuss the affordances of digital genres but also the challenges that they pose to researchers who engage in digital communication. The book explores what researchers can do with these genres, what meanings they can make, who they interact with, what identities they can construct and what new relations they establish, and, finally, what language(s) they deploy in carrying out all these practices.

An unmissable collection of eight unconventional and captivating short stories for young and adult learners. "I love Olly's work - and you will too!" - Barbara Oakley, PhD, Author of New York Times bestseller A Mind for Numbers Short Stories in French for Beginners has been written especially for students from beginner to intermediate level, designed to give a sense of achievement, and most importantly - enjoyment! Mapped to A2-B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference, these eight captivating stories will both entertain you, and give you a feeling of progress when reading. What does this book give you? * Eight stories in a variety of exciting genres, from science fiction and crime to history and thriller - making reading fun, while you learn a wide range of new vocabulary * Controlled language at your level, including the 1000 most frequent words, to help you progress confidently * Authentic spoken dialogues, to help you learn conversational expressions and improve your speaking ability * Pleasure! It's much easier to learn a new language when you're having fun, and research shows that if you're enjoying reading in a foreign language, you won't experience the usual feelings of frustration - 'It's too hard!' 'I don't understand!' * Accessible grammar so you learn new structures naturally, in a stress-free way Carefully curated to make learning a new language easy, these stories include key features that will support and consolidate your progress, including * A glossary for bolded words in each text * Full plot summary * A bilingual word list * Comprehension questions after each chapter. As a result, you will be able to focus on enjoying reading, delighting in your improved range of vocabulary and grasp of the language, without ever feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. From science fiction to fantasy, to crime and thrillers, Short Stories in French for Beginners will make learning French easy and enjoyable.

The Oxford Guide to Effective Writing and Speaking is the essential guide for everyone who needs to communicate in clear and effective English, both written and spoken. John Seely looks at the key factors to consider in tailoring your material so that you get your message across, such as understanding the demands of particular audiences, subjects, and situations. Clearly organized, the book is arranged in four sections: A Communicating in everyday life - covers a wide range of communications including writing emails to giving presentations and preparing reports. B Getting your message across - focuses on important factors such as the audience, the subject, time, and purpose. C Communication tools - offers advice on grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation to ensure that communication is accurate as well as appropriate. D The process of writing - looks at what's involved in writing longer pieces, including planning and drafting, research, summaries, editing, and presentation. Full of practical guidance, this book also includes helpful 'You Try' sections and 'guidelines' to practise and reinforce what you've learnt. The answers to the exercises in the 'You Try' sections can be found at the back of the book. This is the most comprehensive guide to using English for effective communication available; it covers an unrivalled range of situations and requirements, making it ideal for use at work, at school and university, or at home.

Directed motivational currents (DMCs) are goal-directed motivational surges in pursuit of a much-desired personal outcome. This book introduces the reader to cutting-edge theory and research in second language learner motivation and presents empirical research which investigates DMCs in the context of language learning. The studies explore the wider relevance of DMC theory from participants recruited worldwide, answering questions such as how many (and which) participants reported having experienced DMCs and what emerged as common triggers initiating such experiences. The studies also discuss the pedagogical implications of DMC theory, investigating whether it is possible to design and implement a project (specifically, a project 'with DMC potential') in such a way that it may be able to purposefully facilitate a group-DMC with learners in a second language classroom. The book's accessible writing style makes it suitable for researchers and students who are interested in second language learning as well as for teachers and trainee teachers who are looking for classroom inspiration.

Five minutes a day is all it takes to begin learning Japanese! Beginning Japanese Phrases Writing Practice Pad is the perfect interactive resource for busy people who want to start learning Japanese or students looking for a fun way to review what they've learned. This interactive paper pad helps even those completely unfamiliar with the language learn and write 336 essential Japanese phrases--in just a few minutes a day! Each tear-out sheet introduces a common Japanese phrase in bold, easy-to-read type, along with the pronunciation and meaning in English. Plus, language learners can use the provided practice boxes to try writing the phrase themselves! Cultural notes are provided on the back along with etiquette tips on when and how to use the phrase. This language practice pad includes: Contains over 275 tear-off sheets--each presenting a new and useful Japanese phrase Each phrase is in Japanese script along with its pronunciation and English translation Practice boxes are provided for you to write the phrase several times while memorizing it Learn a new phrase each day and keep the practice sheets for easy review later Helpful cultural notes and etiquette tips on Japanese usage are provided Charts showing the 92 hiragana and katakana characters Whether you're planning a trip to Japan or just looking to expand your vocabulary, this practice pad offers a quick and fun way to learn, reference, and review popular Japanese phrases. Five minutes a day is all you need--and you're on your way to speaking and writing Japanese!

This is the first volume to consider the popular literary category of Early Readers - books written and designed for children who are just beginning to read independently. It argues that Early Readers deserve more scholarly attention and careful thought because they are, for many younger readers, their first opportunity to engage with a work of literature on their own, to feel a sense of mastery over a text, and to experience pleasure from the act of reading independently. Using interdisciplinary approaches that draw upon and synthesize research being done in education, child psychology, sociology, cultural studies, and children's literature, the volume visits Early Readers from a variety of angles: as teaching tools; as cultural artifacts that shape cultural and individual subjectivity; as mass produced products sold to a niche market of parents, educators, and young children; and as aesthetic objects, works of literature and art with specific conventions. Examining the reasons such books are so popular with young readers, as well as the reasons that some adults challenge and censor them, the volume considers the ways Early Readers contribute to the construction of younger children as readers, thinkers, consumers, and as gendered, raced, classed subjects. It also addresses children's texts that have been translated and sold around the globe, examining them as part of an increasingly transnational children's media culture that may add to or supplant regional, ethnic, and national children's literatures and cultures. While this collection focuses mostly on books written in English and often aimed at children living in the US, it is important to acknowledge that these Early Readers are a major US cultural export, influencing the reading habits and development of children across the globe.

Presentation skills play a pivotal role in career success. But most people would rather die or have root canal work done than make a speech. Power Presentations reveals how you can overcome these all-too-common fears and learn to really connect with your audience. Popular speaking experts and trainers, Marjorie Brody and Shawn Kent, explain that speaking is an audience-centered sport. Whether your goal is to inform, persuade, or entertain, you have to understand the needs of your audience and show them what’s really in it for them. This book will show you how to do that and how to become a more effective speaker. "Easy to read, direct and insightful. I wish I had this book 20 years ago when I started public speaking." —Gregory Miner, Vice President The Dun & Bradstreet Corporation "Their book helps to shatter the myth that public speaking is a painful process to be avoided. All speakers, novice or veteran, can benefit from their advice on presentation techniques and confidence-building tips. recommend it for all aspiring speakers." —Rosemarie B. Greco President and Chief Executive Officer CoreStates First Pennsylvania Bank "Power Presentations will help everyone to feel more confident communicating their message. Written with enthusiasm and clarity, this book is a must for all of us who have something to say." —Alexandra Stoddard Lecturer, Designer, and Author of Living a Beautiful Life

Among the many pieces of expert advice in The Essentials of Persuasive Public Speaking is this nugget: "To capture attention, define a problem that keeps listeners up at night." Wyeth may as well be talking about the book itself for nothing keeps us up at night like the prospect of giving a speech in the morning.

In this portable, brief, and lucid guide to presenting, Wyeth counsels how to calm a thumping heart and reveals techniques on preparation, delivery, and visual aids as he gives you vivid stories and rubber-meets-the-road advice. And he does more than simply ease your dread; he inspires you with historical accounts and incisive observations on the power and purpose of speaking well. From advice on the pitch and pace of your speaking voice to admonishments against squirrel-paw hands and data-crammed PowerPoint slides, Wyeth s pointers will give you the focus and confidence to stand up straight, lean forward, and tell your story well."

As a result of the convergence within the media environment, people are using media and technology in very different ways as compared to just a few years ago. Consider the experience of growing up today in a wireless broadband household, with easy access to cell phones and laptops, as compared with just a few years ago, when people used the Internet via a phone modem. Go even further back and remember how people viewed only the 500-channels available on the cable television lineup. So much has changed in the past 15 years. To thrive in a media-saturated society, people need to ask critical questions about what we watch, see, listen to, read and use. Covering topics from news and information to the internet to media consumption and addiction, this key textbook provides the tools to both empower and protect students as they navigate our increasingly complex media environment.