Jo McDonough Knihy

Lena kills her husband in order to escape from his violence; then she vanishes, leaving behind her two damaged children. Robert's daughter disappeared ten years ago and he has been given an address where she might be living with her husband, but when Robert arrives, she has already departed. When the two missing lives coincide, Robert catches up with his grandchildren but must continue to search for his daughter. Despite his wife's reservations, he leaves to find her. Lena meets Lachlan and continues her journey with him, but their route requires crossing the Thai border illegally, risking a lifetime in the worst prisons in the world. What makes it worth the risk? Robert's first wife committed suicide; his second is threatening to leave him. His daughter ran away; why? What is his sinister secret? A dark tale of forbidden love, with a shocking climax that will leave you reeling.

This book offers a lively introduction to the research methods and techniques available to English language teachers who wish to investigate aspects of their own practice. It covers qualitative and quantitative methodology and includes sections on observation, introspection, diary studies, experiments, interviews, questionnaires, numerical techniques and case study research. Each method is illustrated with examples in language teaching contexts, and techniques of data collection and analysis are introduced. The authors focus particularly on research in the classroom, on tests, materials, the effects of innovations, and they discuss methods appropriate to research in various collaborative modes as well as by individuals. A key feature of the book is an introduction to the debate surrounding different approaches to research, with an evaluation of traditional research in relation to the paradigms associated with reflective practice and action research. The book is ideal for teachers on initial training and post-experience courses, students on degree programmes in applied linguistics and TEFL and, of course, practising teachers with an interest in research methods in language teaching.