The reading series A Novel Approach supports a whole language approach using literature and film to teach adult and mature adolescent learners at intermediate to advanced English proficiency levels. The series is rooted in the principles of Fluency First, a whole language approach that uses extensive reading, writing, and small-group interaction to cultivate English fluency before focusing on clarity and correctness. This approach has been credited with doubling ESL passing rates at City College of New York (MacGowan-Gilhooly, 1995/1991). The first three titles in the series-Being There, The Shawshank Redemption, and Fried Green Tomatoes-are based on popular novels or novellas.
Using this series, students read about 10 pages per day of a novel(la) and choose short passages to copy and respond to in doubleentry journals. In small groups, they share journal entries and help each other understand important aspects of the story. Each student writes, revises, and edits thousands of words, receiving feedback from a small group of peers. A special feature of the series is a video project in which students enact a scene from the book.
Each title in the series consists of a student workbook and a teacher's manual and is designed to accompany a novel (or novella) and feature film. The novels and movies are not included as part of this series, however, but can be obtained from their publishers or distributors, a book store, or a public library. The student workbook includes a brief introduction to the novel and its author; an orientation to extensive reading and journal writing; 9 or 10 reading assignments, each the focus of a 1-or 2-hr class session; numerous activities to help students relate the reading to their own experiences and to U.S. culture; detailed instructions for the video project; movie-related activities; and a bibliography. The teacher's manual provides a sample lesson plan, photocopiable quizzes, and answer keys for quizzes and discussion questions.