Robert:
Congratulations on the new book! Since I use the Internet with my students here at California State University, Northridge, I am especially excited to see a book exclusively devoted to ESL students. Can you tell me a little about it?

Dave:
It consists of thirty theme-based chapters covering the common topics found in most ESL/EFL texts - Countries, Education, Family and Marriage, Food, Health, History, News, People, Travel, and so on. In each chapter students communicate with keypals and complete a variety of activities by searching the Web for specific information. Students also communicate the information with their classmates, complete writing assignments, learn new vocabulary words, and gather clues to solve a puzzle that leads to a secret Website. In addition, there is a companion Website with links to all of the book's activities. This ensures that the book will remain continuously up-to-date.

Robert:
It sounds like this book can be used as a supplement to just about any ESL textbook!

Dave:
Yes, you're right, and it can also be used for self-study.

Robert:
That is great! In the book do you also teach students Internet basics?

Dave:
Yes, in the introduction I teach students about searching the Web, sending and receiving e-mail, emoticons, netiquette, and Internet issues. It's just a basic introduction, but should be useful to most students.

Robert:
Tell me about your experiences teaching Internet and how this book will help your students.

Dave:
Well, I began teaching Internet to students back in 1994, when most students hadn't even heard of the Internet! I was really excited because I could easily see that the Net was a powerful tool for students to meet and communicate with others around the world, as well as a way to get students to read an amazing variety of information. As much as I loved the Net, however, I was disappointed that students were abandoning pen and paper, so I forced my students to keep a notebook next to their computer and write down new vocabulary words, as well as important information. I also began to make students work in pairs and, after the completion of an activity, had them communicate their finding with the rest of the class. This prevented it from being an antisocial activity.

Robert:
So this is more than just a "computer" book ....

Dave:
Oh absolutely! This book shows students how to use the Net to learn and practice their English by communicating with new friends from around the world, asking and writing down questions, searching for specific information and writing that information into their workbooks, communicating with each other in group discussion activities, writing paragraphs or essays based on an activity, learning new vocabulary words, and even participating in theme-based role play activities. Yes, this is definitely more than a "computer" book!