Languages and Learners: Making the Matchis designed both as a methods text and as a practical guide for schools and teachers.

Communication is the essential element, the fundamental principle of this book. It unifies the guidelines offered and the methods and materials described. This book suggests guidelines and examples to assist the teacher in creating a standards-based classroom in which communication has the highest priority. This book consists of eight sections "Fundamentals", "Planning", "The Learning Experience", "Performance and Feedback", "Environment", "Learning Tools", "Professionalism and Collaboration", and "Programs", discussing such practical topics as curriculum planning, strategies for building toward proficiency, connecting language and culture, using assessment to help learners and programs grow, managing the learning environment, using learning tools effectively, developing professional teachers, and planning and implementing effective programs.

The fifth edition presents new sections and chapters on technology, assessment, teaching grammar, using stories and children’s literature, and integrates additional examples of differentiated instruction activities, student-created work, revised guidelines for small-group and partner activities, and matrix of activity types as well as insights from guest contributors.

Helena Curtain (U.S.) has a wealth of experience as a language educator and has taught at elementary school through university levels. She served as Foreign Language Curriculum Specialist for the Milwaukee Public Schools for many years and in that capacity coordinated and supervised K–12 foreign language and ESOL programs in a district of 100,000 students. She served as associate professor at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and directed the Foreign Language and ESOL teacher preparation programs. She is the author of various articles dealing with language instruction. Helena is active professionally and has received state, regional, and national awards for her service to the language teaching profession. She is an internationally known expert on second language teaching methodology and curriculum development, bilingual education, immersion programs, and two-way immersion programs, especially at the elementary school level. She has also served as speaker, consultant, and visiting