Re: "Special English"

--- Wayne Barnes Ewell <countrymanto-/E1597aS9LQAvxtiuMwx3w@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
wrote:

> Could it be that if we limited the English words we use to teach that 
> students would show faster progress?
> 
> There are some that think so! 
> 
> 
> A LANGUAGE TO AIR NEWS OF AMERICAN TO THE WORLD
> 
> http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/31/washington/31voice.html?
> _r=1&oref=login
> 
> "A 1948 law prohibits Voice of America from broadcasting in the United 
> States, but audio and text files of Special English are on the Voice 
> of America Web site, www.voanews.com/specialenglish.>>>>>>>


For an American, this is a bit ironic. Before coming to China, I had no idea
what VOA offered to other countries, much less China. I was also unfamiliar
with the 1948 law mentioned. Even then, I only found out by accident as one day
I was invited to give a large class a presentation on 'how do I become
president of the U.S.' Since this was a 3 period class taught by my Chinese
colleague, he brought up (via power point) excerpts from VOA regarding U.S.
Constitutional issues. I then learned that VOA was a favorite English station
for the majority of this university. They were quite astounded when I told them
this was the first time in my life I had heard VOA. Since I am American they
assumed I would be an expert on all materials VOA offered. Yes, "Special
English" was mentioned and I foolishly thought this was for mentally
handicapped Ss. Only later did I learn of the 1500 word recommended syllabus
for beginner to intermediate ESL Ss. By then my stint was nearly over and I
never did have a chance to incorporate this into my lesson plans. Btw, English
major post grads tend to feel they are above this 1500. I do plan on adding
this to my manual if and when I return for another semester of ESL. I find
vocabulary-pronunciation building to be a favorite lesson plan for Ss but it it
must be used at the right times (not prolonged) and made to be fun.

Don 


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