This poster session represents one instructor's efforts to provide a structured venue for students to apply practical oral interaction strategies learned in an advanced conversation class. The exhibit reflects the salient features of a conversation partner program and includes photos, graphs, guidelines, questionnaires, worksheets, student responses, and recommendations for the program. After exchanging ideas on the reasons for a conversation partnership program matching ESL learners with NSs of English who are learning their native languages or cultures, the presenter provides the nuts and bolts of one such program, followed by a discussion of potential problem scenarios and trouble shooting. This demonstration is chockfull of activities to improve students' oral proficiency. Appropriate for new teachers or veterans looking for new ideas.
Copious handout includes copy of activities demonstrated and a bibliography of sources.
The presenter describes discourse-based approaches to teaching speaking and illustrates ways in which teachers can use discourse analysis to develop classroom activities. She also provides examples of teaching materials and tasks that draw on natural samples of spoken language. Lacking appropriate mouth muscularity, ESOL students need articulation exercises before they can produce English clearly. These class videos demonstrate students' improvement from week 1 to 12. Easy to follow, practical.