Teaching Foreign Language Skills Second Edition
by Wilga M. Rivers
University of Chicago Press, 1981
Cloth: 978-0-226-72098-2 | Paper: 978-0-226-72097-5 | Electronic: 978-0-226-51885-5
DOI: 10.7208/chicago/9780226518855.001.0001

AVAILABLE FROM

University of Chicago Press (paper, ebook)
ABOUT THIS BOOKAUTHOR BIOGRAPHYTABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS BOOK

Since its original publication in 1968, Rivers's comprehensive and practical text has become a standard reference for both student teachers and veteran instructors. All who wish to draw from the most recent thinking in the field will welcome this new edition. Methodology is appraised, followed up by discussions on such matters as keeping students of differing abilities active, evaluating textbooks, using language labs creatively, and preparing effective exercises and drills. The author ends each chapter of this new edition with questions for research and discussion—a useful classroom tool—and provides an up-to-date bibliography that facilitates further understanding of such matters as the bilingual classroom.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Wilga M. Rivers is professor of Romance languages and coordinator of languages instruction at Harvard University.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface: For Students and Teachers

1. Objectives of Language Teaching

Aims and Objectives

Student Attitudes and Interests

Societal Pressures

Areas of Controversy

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

Formalists and Activists

Evaluating Language Teaching Methods

The Grammar-Translation Method

The Direct Method

The Reading Method

The Audio-Lingual Method

Restoring the Cognitive Element

"Natural" Language Learning

The Eclectic Approach

Areas of Controversy

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

What Is Grammar?

Grammatical Analysis and Description

Aspects of Language

Immediate-Constituent or Phrase-Structure Grammar

Transformational-Generative Grammar

Changing Views of How Language Is Acquired

The Impact of Transformational-Generative Theory on Language Teaching

The Influence of Sociolinguistics

Semantics and Pragmatics

Mentalism, Psycholinguistics, and Cognitive Research

The Affective Element

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

Learning a New Language in a Formal Setting

Grammatical Exercises for Classroom and Laboratory

Types of Structural Pattern Drills

Characteristics of a Structural Pattern Drill

From Intensive Practice to Self-Expression

Classroom Presentation of Structural Pattern Drills

Programmed Instruction

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

General Problems

Acoustic and Articulatory Phonetics

Sound Variation and Comprehension

Generative Phonology

Prosodic Features

Introducing the Phonology of the New Language

Evaluating Pronunciation

Physical and Psychological Problems of Teaching Sounds

Areas of Controversy

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

Theoretical Concepts Basic to Listening Comprehension

Learning to Listen to Another Language

Hearing and Comprehending

Developmental Stages

Presentation of Listening Comprehension Exercises

Areas of Controversy

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

Communication Model

Three Aspects of Language

Written and Spoken Language

We Learn to Speak by Speaking

Analysis of an Act of Speech

Forging the Instrument

How Does the Student Acquire Structures for the Basic Functions?

Dialogues and Dramatizations

The Audio-Visual Approach

Areas of Controversy

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

An Act of Communication

Psychological Factors in Communication

Acquiring Basic Language Material

From Structured Practice to Spontaneous Expression

Encouraging Expression of Personal Meaning

Context and Meaning

The Functional-Notional Communicative Approach

Two Traditions of Language Study

Speaking Skill at the Advanced Level

Conversation Groups, Courses, and Clubs

The Natural and the Normal

Taking the Language Out of the Classroom

Areas of Controversy

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

9. The Reading Skill

What Is "Reading"?

When Should Reading Begin?

The Process of Reading

Developmental Stages

Areas of Controversy

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

10. The Writing Skill

Writing Activities in the Classroom

Integration of the Skills

Writing Down: Notation

Writing Practice

Production: Guided Writing

Expressive Writing: Composition

Correction of Written Exercises

How Much Writing?

Areas of Controversy

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

11. Cultural Understanding

What Is Culture?

The Components of Meaning

Culture or Civilization?

Goals for the Teaching of Culture

Culture in the Classroom

Types of Courses for Teaching Culture

Who Should Teach Culture?

Areas of Controversy

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

Know Why You Are Testing

Know What You Are Testing

Understand How You Are Testing

Test What the Students Have Been Learning

Test to Find Out What the Student Knows

Construction and Use of Objective Tests

Designing Class Tests

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

The Language Learning Laboratory Is Not a Method

The Language Learning Laboratory Is a Patient Helper

Laboratory Work Must Be Designed as a Significant Part of the Language Program

Advantages of a Language Learning Laboratory

Types of Language Learning Laboratories

Laboratory Design

Installing a Language Learning Laboratory

The Director of the Laboratory

Choosing Taped Materials for the Laboratory Library

U sing the Language Learning Laboratory

The Language Learning Laboratory at All Levels of Language Study

Has the Language Learning Laboratory Failed?

Areas of Controversy

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

Learning Languages Early or Late?

FLES (Foreign Language in the Elementary School)

Vocabulary Learning

Languages for Special (Specific) Purposes (LSP)

The Textbook

Planning the Language Lesson

Classroom Management

Keeping Abreast Professionally

Annotated Reading List

Research and Discussion

Appendix A: Absolute Language Proficiency Ratings

Appendix B. Learning a Sixth Language: An Adult Leamer's Daily Diary

Abbreviations

Selected Bibliography

Index