This book traces and summarizes the author's theoretical insights and empirical findings in the field of foreign language education. The volume explores themes such as individual differences in L1 ability and their connection to L2 aptitude and L2 achievement, L2 anxiety as an affective or cognitive variable, and the relationship between L1 and L2…

These technical appendices are for the report, "English as a Second Language at California's Community Colleges: An Early Examination of AB 705 Reforms." Assembly Bill 705 (AB 705 Irwin) sought to increase successful completion of transfer-level math and English courses by addressing systemic problems in traditional placement policies…

The aim of this research was to determine the levels of metacognitive awareness among college students in Saudi Arabia, with a focus on both academic majors and gender. There were 113 participants (58 females and 55 males) from the Information Technology (n = 68) and Human Resources (n = 45) majors. Using the Metacognitive Awareness of Writing…

This book examines the unique characteristics of teaching foreign languages to senior learners. It discusses the potential age-related barriers and learning difficulties which may be encountered in senior foreign language education as well as solutions to overcome these challenges. The author describes the processes of human aging from different…

Assembly Bill 705 (AB 705) sought to increase successful completion of transfer-level math and English courses by addressing systemic problems in traditional placement policies and curricular structures. The law requires colleges to maximize the probability that students who enroll in credit English as a second language (ESL) courses complete…

From preschool parents to Pentagon chiefs, people are calling for more foreign language instruction. Factors driving the demand include China's economic growth, which has prompted the College Board to add Chinese to its list of Advanced Placement tests. Meanwhile, President George W. Bush, citing national security concerns, has called for the…

Contends that, after the struggle for political liberation in sub-Saharan Africa, most of the new nations lost interest in using the educational system to transform their societies. Discusses nine barriers to establishing effective multicultural education in African nations. (CFR)

Although the teaching of English at Junior Certificate level in Malawi secondary schools has only recently been introduced, some problems have been created by the introduction of the prescribed textbook, "A New Introduction to English Literature." This report opens with a critical review of the textbook, citing certain irrelevancies in…

Reports on a case study of the role of native-language literacy in the academic achievement of 387 Vietnamese high school students in New Orleans (Louisiana). Finds that literacy in Vietnamese is positively related to identification with the ethnic group and to academic achievement. (CFR)

Issues facing schools, teachers, and policy-makers in the expansion of elementary school instruction in modern second languages are discussed, particularly in the context of Scotland's educational system. An introductory chapter defines key terminology, the transition from pilot programs to institutionalization, and discusses briefly the…

In 1990 a comparative analysis was conducted of North Dakota student achievement across three forms of distance education: instruction by satellite, audiographic tele-learning, and two way interactive educational television. Based in part on the 1988 study of a German by Satellite program in Missouri and North Dakota, this study mailed…

A growing number of American students are nonnative English speakers. These students are vulnerable to early school exit and schools are facing more and more such students each year. Presently, about 56% of all public school teachers in the United States have at least one English language learner (ELL) student in their class, but less than 20% of…