Practical Word Power

By Richard Cavalier

Subjects: volunteer tutoring, English language, grammar, giving-back, simplified phonetics, English language, pronunciation, ESL

Description: "Practical Word Power" is a verbatim script/workbook for tutors of ESL; it teaches the 45 dictionary codes that cover the 40 phonemes (sounds) of American-English. Learners use only a paperback "Amrican Heritage" dictionary. Outcome: In only 8 sessions of 2 hours each, teen/adult learners can master pronunciation of the entire dictionary. Bonus: With codes learned and their bilingual dictionary in hand, "PWP's" 'graduates' can immediately and understandably use in English any words already known in their own (any) language. Total book cost: just under $100 for all. Sure, quick, inexpensive independence in vocabulary development to personal need. . .the end of memorized generic word lists! Related research supports the simplification concept: Dr E. Paulesu at Univ Milan/Bicocca ("Science" Journal, March 16, 2001). Human communication does not require perfect grammar! Proved before publication at Truman (Chicago City Community) College classrooms; then at Chicago community groups, working independently from the book's tutor-instructions. Designed to be taught (in English by volunteers who speak/read/write standard American-English) to persons who already understand simple instructions in English. Can be taught in any foreign language on two conditions: 1) bilingual tutors must be able to read the book's English text and speak it in the foreign language; and 2) if the bilingual tutor has an accent, then dictionary codes/sounds should be modeled by a native-English speaker as the tutor's assistant (HS honors student or any native-English college grad or equivalent). Consultant: Dr John Haskell, now retired as Chair of Lingusitics at Northeastern Illinois University and simultaneously then-Editor of the TESOL "Newsletter" (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages). "PWP" is valid; it works! Details: author's website: www.meetingsCavalier.com. Click 'Business Writing'; 'Titles'; then '"Practical Word Power."' See buttons: 'Precis' (for a comprehensive presentation-cum-roadmap to the section) and 'Support & Validation' (for credence materials by topic: 'Uptown Chicago Commission,' 'Truman,' 'WSNS' Hispanic TV, 'Puerto Rican field test,' 'St Augustine' alternative school, 'Literacy groups.' Holds California's Certification of Compliance; legal to teach there as a supplemental text. Listed on New York City's website of accepted books. If usable in the nation's largest cities, why not everywhere? END