Participants try a number of enjoyable techniques. The presenters report on a needs analysis survey in which language skills for academic purposes of NS and NNS of English were investigated. They discuss the most important language skills for academic studies and the most difficult areas that international students face compared to native students. The presenters explain a university elective class that teaches students how to successfully prepare for studying abroad by sharing, analyzing, and compiling stories from students' families. Presenters show three video clips exemplifying storytelling techniques and Japanese university students interacting.
Participants share a family story in small groups.
The presenter shows how an academic listening course can be organized around themes that include various reading, writing, and speaking activities while maintaining a focus on listening skills. The presenter discusses the advantages of this approach for university-bound ESL students and provides handouts of sample classroom activities. This study investigates how integration of writing and speaking can affect gains in both skills. Implications for teaching writing and speaking in addition to learners' perceptions and needs are discussed. The presenter suggest ways of linking linguistic theory and classroom practice and discusses potential problems.