This article discusses the importance of fostering the development of a "first language" as demonstrated by each hearing impaired student. Nine factors are presented for consideration by educators working with children who do not have a strong first language base on which to build second language (i.e., English) skills. (Author/CB)

In response to two earlier articles on the role of English language teaching (ELT) and English-medium instruction in India, the authors draw on their experiences in South Africa to outline a role for ELT teachers in maintaining and promoting multilingualism. This role includes participation in policy debates, professional activism, and the…

Contends that the Black struggle for educational equality resulted in a new perspective in multicultural education--antiracist education. Stresses that homogeneous mainstream doctrine, international hegemony of English, and political devaluing of ethnicity contributed to the marginalization of community languages instruction. Concludes that the…

The increase in the number of Canadian students whose home language is different from the school language has serious implications in the areas of minority student assessment, possible bias of IQ tests, minority student English-language acquisition, and recommendations to parents regarding home language use. Research and educational considerations…

This publication reviews research findings on selected aspects of home and school language usage in the Pacific region, which is a multilingual context with English as the common language. Patterns of indigenous and English language vary considerably across geographical areas. Traditional cultures and languages are changing rapidly. The wide…

A comparison of the salient characteristics of Canadian and United States bilingual education programs suggests various settings where it would be desirable to introduce children to schooling in their home language. These settings include: (1) the various ethnic communities in the United States, (2) multilingual developing countries, (3) parts of…

Written in the social context of the United States in the 1980s and based on information about Hispanic students, parents, teachers, and schools contained in the national High School and Beyond data set, this book addresses critical issues regarding the status of Hispanic education of interest to Hispanics, policymakers, and academicians. Part I…

Based on the questions of second language teachers concerning classroom practice, generated by mail survey in 1983, research on aspects of second language teaching and learning was reviewed and is summarized here. In each case, a question or questions are posed and a brief discussion follows, in layman's language and based on relevant research,…