Former Senator S.I. Hayakawa discusses his constitutional amendment that would establish English as the official national language of the United States. He discusses his concerns over bilingual education, stressing a belief that it should be chosen freely by local school authorities and that bilingual programs must be transitional, transfering…

A systematic approach for assessing language competencies of bilingual students is developed. Two issues are clarified. First, the issue of examining separately the four language skills is looked at, as well as the need to consider other related factors including cognitive functions operative in language processing, affective forces, and…

Makes some recommendations for the establishment and certification of study abroad programs, and discusses study abroad requirements for future language and area studies teachers. (AM)

The following articles are included: (1) "Bilingual-Bicultural Education for Portuguese-Americans: An Overview" (Nelson H. Vieira); (2) "Minority Status for the Portuguese: Its Implication in Higher Education" (Gilbert R. Cavaco); (3) "The Luso-American Limbo: Closer to Heaven or Hell?" (Ana M. Fonseca); (4)…

The implementation of a bilingual special education alternative is imperative if the "double-edged" effects of these students' language barrier and handicapping conditions are to be neutralized. (Author/JM)

Examines the challenges the new immigration presents to the public schools. Offers successful responses to these challenges and identifies positive contributions which may result from recent immigration trends. (JDH)

Structured immersion, or transfer instruction, is proposed as a bridging program between English as a second language or bilingual programs and the all-English medium classroom. The theoretical background underlying the transfer of knowledge and skills from a child's first language to English is reviewed. Based on the assumption that learners will…

The central concept underlying the approach and strategies offered here is culture as process, that is, the knowledge people use in their everyday life situations. A presupposition is that all human knowledge is cultural. Conceptual patterns are identified within the learner's cognitive framework which will be of importance in teacher-learner…

Music promotes cultural awareness and appreciation as well as improvement in language skills. The six objectives developed for using music in the bilingual classroom have to do with: (1) enhancing self-concept, (2) fostering group identity and cultural pride, (3) building positive intercultural attitudes, (4) providing enriching experiences in…

In an effort to comply with bilingual instruction requirements, school districts throughout California will soon be involved in testing vast numbers of children to determine language proficiency and language dominance. Many language tests will require a child to repeat a sentence or a phrase in exactly the same manner that is stated by an examiner…

Describes Montessori's vision of young children as natural linguists and how home and school can support children's natural abilities in one or more languages. Presents five basic principles of second-language acquisition--related to educational environment, the acquisition process, components of proficiency, and cultural context and time--and…

Describes ways in which schools can help immigrant children overcome refugee trauma, differences in language, culture, religion, and problems arising because of social stratification and prejudice in American society. Reviews the benefits derived by all students from successful educational practices. (JDH)

Two main factors are involved in bilingual-bicultural education as far as science education is concerned. First, there is the interplay between language and concept formation, and secondly, there is a need for culturally familiar examples in science materials for bilingual students. In line with these factors, this paper suggests that an inquiry…

The failure of educational research to fully allow for limitations in methodology when drawing conclusions is faulted. In addition to this, a failure on the part of the media--educational and other--to fully publicize these limitations is also criticized. Methodological shortcomings of the 1977-78 American Institutes of Research (AIR) study of…

The article identifies constraining forces (such as resistance to special education content in general teacher preparation) and facilitating forces (such as commonality between special and bilingual education). A detailed list of competencies for teachers of bilingual exceptional children is presented, and the Concerns-Based Adoption Model is…