The role of metalinguistic knowledge in learning a foreign/second language is the subject of continuing debate. In this paper we report on a study which explores this issue further with reference to undergraduate students of Chinese as a second/foreign language. The first part of the paper describes the process of developing and validating an…

Discusses what constitutes adequate language proficiency on the part of the language teacher for the classroom and the problems associated with defining and measuring the language skills of language teachers. Considers these issues in the context of an Italian language proficiency project undertaken at the University of Melbourne, Australia. (39…

Considers the validity of applying common assessment instruments and scales to assess the language skills of Australian school-age language learners from different first-language backgrounds. Findings reveal a strong relationship between home exposure to the language and the level of performance on the listening and reading components of the…