Special English was created by the Voice of America in 1959 for news broadcasts and other programming aimed at listeners in foreign countries where English is learned as a second language. It uses about 1500 words which are commonly used in everyday conversation, is spoken 1/3 slower than regular English, and uses short sentences and no idioms. Everything in the world is decribed or defined using the core set of 1500 words. New words can be used only after defining them using the core words of Special English.<br/><br/>For students in general chemistry as freshmen, chemistry can seem like a foreign language. For  foreign students, the language barrier makes understanding chemistry lectures in English even more difficult. By speaking slower and by defining chemistry terms and concepts in the most simplest ways possible, students have a better chance of understanding lecture material and will do better on quizzes and exams.

Using Special English as a tool to engage students in chemistry lecture

249th National Meeting (2015)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.