Introduction

Writer(s): 
Steve McGuire, Editor

If one unifying theme could be found to describe this month's issue, perhaps it might be "the state of the profession." Patricia Byrd leads off with a look at how grammar is currently taught, and proposes and predicts new directions for the teacher of grammar. Rod Ellis, in an interview with David Kluge, discusses teachers as researchers. John Boyles reports on a presentation by Graham Crookes at Temple University on action research, and Priscilla Butler gives some insight into the hiring process at Japanese universities. Finally, on a more practical level, the Creative Course Design article by Wayne Johnson, presents an interesting lesson using newspapers in the classroom, and Brian Nelson and Wakao Akiko discuss an intensive summer language course in which students produced computer-based multimedia projects.

Perhaps few people follow the staffing of The Language Teacher very closely, but I'm once again devoting a large part of the Introduction to announce changes in the TLT team. This is about the only recognition that the many volunteers who work so hard for TLT get.

First, as mentioned in last month's Introduction, Eguchi Eiko has retired as Japanese Language Co-Editor after a long period of hard work for us. Kinugawa Takao has taken over as Japanese Language Editor, and Ono Masaki has been selected as Japanese Associate Editor. On the "English side," Laura MacGregor will officially be the new Associate Editor pending approval at the National Officer's meeting. Laura brings a great deal of experience as a national officer, a column editor and proofreader for TLT, and as a book author.

There's been a bit of a shuffle in other areas as well. Paul Lewis is leaving the Chapter Reports column and proofreading to concentrate more on his many duties as Co-Assistant Editor. Diane Pelyk is taking over as Chapter Reports Editor, and Duane Kindt is replacing Laura as Book Reviews Editor. Nancy Mutoh, Lanny Dryden, and Aleda Krause have agreed to come aboard as proofreaders to replace Paul, Diane, and Sharon Vaipae, who is returning to the U.S. in December.

Finally, I wish you all a happy holiday season and a safe journey should you travel during the break.

- Steve McGuire, Editor