Theoretical insights into teaching English as a second language developed in recent years are brought together in a broad methodological approach called the balanced activities approach. The book aims at providing a theoretical background to the approach as well as detailing practical instructional techniques. The first of the three parts of the book, on theory, outlines the concerns of applied linguistics that have influenced English teaching, including (1) language learning motivation and success factors; (2) the knowledge and skills of a native speaker; (3) the content and varieties of language instruction; and (4) the connections between language learning and language teaching. The second part, on practice, focuses on specific techniques and materials for use within the general methodological approach outlined in the first part: (1) teaching and integrating productive language skills; (2) the what, how, and when of introducing new language in the classroom; (3) oral and written practice; (4) oral and written communicative activites and their evaluation; and (5) principles of teaching receptive skills. The third part, management and planning, presents an approach to classroom procedure that brings together the concerns of the first two parts and considers class management (teacher role, student groupings, and discipline) and planning (class, syllabus, and instructional materials). A section on evaluating instructional materials is appended.