Genre and the language learning classroom - Brian Paltridge

• What is genre?
• How can genre be used as an organizing principle in ESL programs?
• How are genre and context explored in ESL classes?
• How can discourse structures be taught through genre?
• How can genre-based assessment tasks be incorporated into the language classroom?

These questions are addressed and answered in Genre and the Language Learning Classroom. This text introduces teachers and teachers-in-training to the concept of genre analysis and suggests ways in which the results of genre analysis can be applied to language learning classrooms. It provides genre-oriented activities that will help teachers extend and diversify their everyday language teaching practice. These activities focus on the relationship between genre and context, genre and discourse, and genre and language. Examples of genre-based course design and genre-based assessment are offered. The final chapter considers future directions for research and development in the area of genre-based language teaching.