Springer The Theory and Practice of Group Discussion with Quality Talk (Learning Sciences for Higher Education)

This book explores the application of a significant discussion approach, Quality Talk, to English learning in Taiwanese college classrooms. Quality Talk has been found to successfully enhance students' reading comprehension and higher-level thinking in American contexts. It offers an introduction to Quality Talk and demonstrates how it can be implemented in college level English classes. It addresses students’ three levels of English proficiency: elementary, intermediate, and advanced. The respective chapters discuss a range of aspects: students' language proficiency levels, students' own viewpoints on the discussion approach, students' academic backgrounds, teaching materials, and culture-based learning. Readers will gain valuable insights into the Quality Talk approach and how it can be implemented in the classroom. From the Back Cover This book explores the application of a significant discussion approach, Quality Talk, to English learning in Taiwanese college classrooms. Quality Talk has been found to successfully enhance students' reading comprehension and higher-level thinking in American contexts. It offers an introduction to Quality Talk and demonstrates how it can be implemented in college level English classes. It addresses students’ three levels of English proficiency: elementary, intermediate, and advanced. The respective chapters discuss a range of aspects: students' language proficiency levels, students' own viewpoints on the discussion approach, students' academic backgrounds, teaching materials, and culture-based learning. Readers will gain valuable insights into the Quality Talk approach and how it can be implemented in the classroom. About the Author Chao-Chen Chen is a Distinguished Professor at the Graduate Institute of Library and Information Studies of National Taiwan Normal University. She served as Vice President for Academic Affairs from 2013-2020. Based on her long-term engagement in developing student learning and teacher training, Prof. Chen has become an expert on learning, teaching, and assessment in higher education. She was the President of Taiwan Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education, a renowned organization that helps teachers in higher education hone theirs kills in teaching, learning, assessment, and instructional design. Currently, she is the President of the Taiwan Reading Association, a chapter association of the International Literacy Association. Mei-Lan Lo is an Associate Professor at the Department of English, National Taiwan Normal University. She served as Director of the Foreign Language Education Division, Common Core Education Committee at the National Taiwan Normal University from February 2018 to July 2019, and August 2020 to January 2021. Her research interests include bilingual education, teacher professional development, reading and writing instruction, and English as a medium of instruction.