This article draws on sociolinguistics and educational anthropology to discuss (1) the concept of communicative competence in general and in the classroom setting in particular; and (2) findings from studies of home-school cultural discontinuities. The ability to empathize and understand is seen to help teachers and clinicians bridge differences…

This article on oral narratives in school-age children focuses on the changing demands from home to school use of narratives, developmental changes expected in school-age children, differences between narratives of children with and without language disorders, difficulties inherent in current assessment methods, and alternative assessment and…

This article presents a framework for understanding cultural variations in beliefs, values, and communication styles and considers the role of culture in relation to children's response to formal education and literacy. Major dimensions of cultural variability discussed include individualism/collectivism and high-context/low-context. (Author/DB)

The article presents general information on the history, cultures, and languages of the major Asian/Pacific immigrant and refugee groups. Knowledge required to become a cross-cultural communicator is outlined, including professional knowledge, skills, and attitudes; knowledge of cultures, languages, and discourse styles; and knowledge of family…

A study comparing the educational performance of limited-English-proficient (LEP) and fluent-English-proficient (FEP) Southeast Asian students as a whole with that of other LEP and FEP ethnic groups finds that the five main Indochinese ethnic groups exhibit significant socioeconomic and ethnocultural diversity, impacting on their academic…

This article examines the multiple factors necessary to attainment of transcultural competence for language specialists in educational settings. Issues discussed include structural linguistics, psycholinguistics, social psychological issues, and, most important, sociolinguistics. Cultural issues in the client-therapist-teacher relationship are…

Cross-cultural communicative competence requires more than learning the language; social cultural competence also is necessary. Challenges beyond semantics (word connotations), beyond phonology (significance of subtle pronunciation differences), beyond pragmatics (relating to cognitive style), and beyond translation (the cultural imperatives of…

A brief description of aspects of Arabic culture that may affect the effectiveness of language intervention is followed by descriptions of Arabic child-rearing practices, attitudes toward disabilities, nonverbal communication, communication style, difficulties experienced in learning English, and suggestions for clinicians working with…