Language Exploration and Awareness: A Resource Book for Teachers

by Larry Andrews

Book Overview

"Language Exploration and Awareness: A Resource Book for Teachers, Third Edition" shows English teachers how they can expand their curriculum beyond the traditional emphases on grammar and syntax, to help their students learn about many aspects of the English language, including general semantics, regional and social dialects, syntax, spelling, history of the English language, social language conventions, lexicography, and word origins. Clear, practical, and reader-friendly, the text reviews basic aspects of English language study in classrooms, then illustrates how teachers can create student-centered, inquiry-oriented activities for the learners in their classrooms. Written from a sociocultural perspective, this text stresses the uses of authentic language as it is used by real people for real purposes in diverse social contexts. Changes in the Third Edition are: all chapters have been thoroughly updated to address new developments in the world and in the field of English and language arts education; the chapters in Section II include new Student Explorations - activities designed by pre- and in-service teachers that readers can use with students in their classrooms; and new in this edition are references throughout several chapters to Web sites that instructors and students will find useful. This text is intended as text for undergraduate and master's level English language arts courses on the pedagogies of language teaching, and as an introduction to language or introduction to linguistics courses - particularly those emphasizing language study from a sociocultural perspective; and for courses preparing teachers of English as a new language. The text is also intended as a resource for current classroom teachers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805843086
• ISBN13: 9780805843088
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 1.12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Amazing!

This is the only book I've ever read for a class that I've ENJOYED reading. I refer back to it often as a teacher. Dr. Andrew's style is enjoyable to read and the content is intellectually stimulating. If Larry Andrews wrote all the texts used in English and education programs, everyone would want to major in those disciplines because of the mysterious sparkle that Andrews lends to the language.

Funny and practical

I absolutely loved this book. This is one of the few books for teachers that I couldn't stop reading. I loved it. Anderson's humorous style makes his points memorable. I have used most activities in this book in my classroom. Students genuinely enjoyed them and were able to really think about language.

A Great Way to Approach Linguistics

First of all, I have the pleasure of being in Dr. Andrews' Principles of Linguistics class. This book is being used as the required text for class and it is simply WONDERFUL. The text is written for students and teachers in such a manner that it is easy to understand and relate to. (Unlike some texts which are written simply for the community of the academic "elite.") Dr. Andrews takes a wonderful approach to Linguistics, emphasizing the importance of context in any situation to determine what language use is appropriate. Rather than simply telling students that word usage or sentence structure is wrong, this book both analyzes reasons for why these uses may be deemed incorrect and, at the same time, urges teachers to recognize the individuality and expression that can be found in language. Overall, this book makes studying Linguistics a sheer joy. I can't remember how many teachers pushed correct grammar usage as the primary focus of English classes in high school. This book really tries to step away from that habit and promote a true love of language. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is planning to study Linguistics, teach English, or simply explore the wonders of our own language!