Stephen van Vlack

Sookmyung Women`s University

Graduate School of TESOL

English for Specific Purposes (ESP)

Spring 2006

Winter Reading Project

For this course students are expected to read one small book over the winter break. The purpose of this reading is to keep the students academic skills primed as well as to provide them with what is sen as a valuable information for the course. The book the students will read for this course is a very simple, easy to read book focusing on practical teaching techniques.

♦       Lewis, Michael and Jimmie Hill. (1992). Practical techniques for language teaching. Hove, LTP.

The last time I checked this book was procurable from Amazon.com, but at a ridiculously exorbitant price. For this reason, I think facsimiles of the book will be made available at Copy Zone for your convenience.

Now, what I expect you to do with this book at first to read it and secondly to answer this one simple question about the reading.

Question 1

Lewis & Hill (1992) is essentially a collection of maxims organized into different sections. Of the dozens of different maxims given in the book which five do you feel are the most compelling for you either as a teacher or a learner or both (if you can actually separate the two)? Pick five of the most compelling maxims from Lewis & Hill (1992) and explain in detail why they are compelling to you .

Your write up should be about 1,500 words in length and follow APA format as closely as possible. Citations and quotations from outside academic sources are not necessary for this write up. More I want you to focus on your own experience and beliefs based on this experience. The personal nature of this project, however, must not be an excuse for sloppy writing. Your writing should be clear and well-organized.

On the first day of class all students are expected to come with a rough draft of her/his project write up as we will be discussing the materials and what students found interesting. The final version of your write up will be handed into class on the second week (March 13th).

Good luck!!