MSI Press Blog

  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.”...

  " Arthur has some really interesting insights. I like his calm style of talking. He's more well versed on a bigger myriad of religions than anyone I've ever seen. This was a fascinating interview to watch and it definitely gave me some things to think about." (feedback from a listener/watcher) Arthur Yavelberg, author of the award-winning book, A Theology for the Rest of Us , was interviewed recently on the podcast, Spirituality with a Twist. This interview is titled Beyond Dogma: Navigating Complex Spiritual Questions . Enjoy Description from the interviewer: Hi, Welcome to Spirituality with a Twist In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with educator and author Arthur Yalevberg for a interview. We discuss his book A Theology for the Rest of Us and explore how spirituality, science, and philosophy intersect. With experience teaching comparative religion, world history, and American history, Arthur offers a unique perspective on complex spiritual que...

  From the interview: Rainstorm of Tomorrow  shares your provocative philosophical insights on truth, ethics, and aesthetics. Why was this an important book for you to write? “Philosophy is dead,” declared Stephen Hawking in agreement with many others. “As philosophers have not kept up with science, their art is dated.” However, if we refer to the history of how humans pursue knowledge, we will not find that different disciplines replaced one another in sequence. It is not that the wilt of religion gave rise to philosophy, or that the denouement of philosophy set the stage for science—nor is the world segmented into discrete, incompatible disciplinary fields. Every discipline is a language capable of encompassing all phenomena in the world. Each speaks with a unique voice. In practice, however, we rarely lean on one discipline alone to explain everything around us. For example, we are not likely to use the language of physics—despite its sufficiency—to restore psychological ac...

Told by Betty Lou Leaver -- In honor of National Military Appreciation Month, I share the photo from the birth announcement of our third child. The announcement read, "Joining the people who joined the Army." And, yes, my kids grew up for a few years at least as Army brats. In those days, the Vietnam era, it was not typical for mothers to serve in the military. I was among the first, and in some ways, the Army was not ready for that -- or for me. For this blog post, I will share one story, but there were many more of similar nature. Starting with no military maternity uniforms. I got pregnant right before I applied for a direct commission (the last group of women to need direct commissions since after that women were allowed to join ROTC and become commissioned in that manner). I kept hoping that I would be called for the interview before I no longer fit into my uniform, but, as things take a while in the Army (the hurry-up-and-wait process for nearly everything), I had just ...

  Excerpt from  Think Yourself into Becoming a Language Learning Super Star How to Prepare for an Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) All of the organizations that administer written proficiency tests also administer oral proficiency tests. You can find information at the same sites as given for the written tests. Please note that Language Testing International (LTI) administers the OPI of the American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL) so LTI’s site is the best place to go for information. Some private institutes, organizations, and companies have developed various forms of an OPI, but they are not as commonly known or used as those of ACTFL and the US government. Preparing for the test Here are some thoughts to keep in mind as soon as you know you will be taking an OPI: ·        Given that we become good at what we practice (and not good at what we do not), then it goes without saying that we should practice speaking as much as possible,...