Foreign language tests fall into two classes, according to their purposes. The first class, tests used for the control of instruction, may be achievement or diagnostic tests. The second class of tests, used in the control of a person's career, may be concerned with what the subject can do, or what he should be able to do in the future. The…

The progressive in English is a grammatical form which is based on a distinction between stative and dynamic situations. It is used for actions and events that are regarded as incomplete or developing. Suggests this distinction should guide organization of the teaching of the progressive in the ESL classroom. (Author/BK)

Examines race and identity among nonnative English-as-a-Second-Language teachers in Canada. (JL)

Provides a form of argumentative dialectic to Liz Hamp-Lyons's forum commentary published in an earlier issue of this journal, "Ethical Test Preparation Practice: The Case of TOEFL." Hamp-Lyons responds to the comments.(Author/VWL)

The general-specific concept, here defined as a matter of thinking in wholes and in parts as they relate to wholes, is examined as the key to the native English speaker's use of the" and a" as well as some" and any." Implication for teaching these forms to learners of English as a Second language are discussed. (FB)

Argues that language teaching would benefit by paying attention to the second language (L2) rather than concentrating primarily on the native speakers. Suggests ways that language teaching can apply an L2-user model and exploit the students' first language. (Author/VWL)

Comments on an earlier article on a critical pedagogical orientation to a teacher-education classroom and raises several concerns. Crookes responds to these comments. (Author/VWL)

Comments on a previous article, admiring its insightful treatment of the complex interrelationships among language technology and social context. Also questions the precise meaning of the "globalization" discussed in the previous article as well as the methods for investigating globalization that will help explain how it effects changes…

Reports data pertaining to the fundamental question about popular speech recognition software for English as a Second language: To what extent can the software recognize learner language? Based on findings that the software fails to recognize nonnative language at an acceptable level even under ideal conditions, recommends careful examination of…

Reports on research on the power and status of nonnative English-as-a-Second-Language teachers in Hong Kong. (JL)

Argues that the concept of "teaching method" is unlikely to disappear and explores the middle ground between a position that method is not useful in language teaching and one that recognizes some value for such a construct for the profession. (Author/VWL)