MSI Press Blog

  Today's tip for parents from two talented teachers comes from  365 Teacher Secrets for Parents  by Cindy McKinley Alder and Patti Trombly.   #168 Interviewing   Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That’s why it’s a comfort to go hand in hand. ~Emily Kimbrough   A terrific way to motivate kids to write, you know, is to have them choose a topic that interests them. For most children, their parents’ and grandparents’ lives seem vague and intriguing. How about offering to let your child interview you or setting up time for her to interview another family member? There are so many skills involved with interviewing, and a great deal can be learned. Of course, if your child is young, you can help her with many of the steps and even take an abbreviated path. Here are some informational writing skills you could focus on along the way. For instance, if your child is going to interview Grandpa Larry, have her: ●       Brainstorm what...

  Today's excerpt comes from  Achieving Native-Like Second Language Proficiency  (Speaking) by Betty Lou Leaver. INTRODUCTION A Research Study on High-Level Language Achievement         The purposes of the research study, described in this volume, were (1) to assess the behavioral aspects of Level 4 language proficiency, (2) to determine the most important factors that contribute to reaching that level, and (3) to examine the nature of Level 4 language from two perspectives: the teachers who teach it and the users who apply it in their daily and professional lives. This volume reports on purpose #2 (determining the important factors that lead to attainment of Level 4 proficiency) specifically for the skill of speaking.             In this study, the researchers interviewed in depth foreign-language users who had developed one or more language skills in one or more languages to ...

  This interview was taken several years ago but never ended up un the blog until now. Although Cyn has passed (recently), it seems as good a time as any to share her interview (and her legacy). Name: Cynthia MacGregor Book: Everybody’sLittle Book of Everyday Prayers Date of Interview: 8/4/18 Who are you? What do you want readers to know about you? I’m the author of over 100 books, some for adults (mostly nonfiction ), some for kids (mostly fiction). I also do freelance writing for clients (biz writing, blog writing, ghostwriting, etc—just about anything except grant proposals) and editing (books, biz materials—whatever’s needed) Why are you qualified to write this book? Although I’m an ordained New Thought minister, I feel my true qualification for writing the book is not my ministerial status but rather my desire to help other people connect to God as I have, and my God-given ability to write, which enabled me to create the prayers in the book. What is the message of yo...

  Ah, we forgot to mention a while back, but definitely should have, that Managing Editor, Dr. Betty Lou Leaver, was invited to Austin for a variety of activities. To those, she added a visit with MSI Press author, Julia Aziz. During the visit, she conducted an interview about Julia and her book, Lessons of Labor . Listen to the interview here . For more posts by and about Julia and her book, click HERE . For more posts about authors in the news, click HERE . Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .   Interested in publishing with MSI Press LLC? Check out information on  how to submit a proposal . Interested in receiving a free copy of this or any MSI Press LLC book  in exchange for  reviewing  a current or forthcoming MSI Press LLC book? Contact editor@msipress.com. Want an  author-signed copy  of this book? Purchase the book at 25% discount (use coupon code FF25) and con...

  Well, we missed this one when it happened, but better late than never. Irit Schaffer, author of Good Blood , gave an interview (worth checking out) to Release blog. Read the interview HERE . Read more posts about Irit and her book HERE .                                         Sign up for the MSI Press LLC newsletter                           Follow MSI Press on  Twitter ,  Face Book , and  Instagram .

  Dr, Betty Lou Leaver, MSI Press author , was interviewed on TeachRussian podcas t a while ago (better late than never to share the podcast) -  From  http://www.teachrussian.org/Podcasts#/ Teach Russian has started publishing a monthly Foreign Language Teaching Podcast which will bring you interviews with experienced teachers, SLA and bilingualism experts, textbook authors, and scholars who will share their thoughts on teaching foreign languages. The podcast host is Natasha McCauley, a visiting assistant professor of Russian studies at the University of Richmond.  In their first episode you can listen to an interview with Betty Lou Leaver (PhD, Pushkin Institute), former provost of the Defense Language Institute who is currently editing a book with Dr. Dan Davidson on Transformative Approaches to language learning and teaching. She defines transformation in language learning using terms such as “bilingualism,” “biculturalism,” and “reaching outside the classroom.”...