This paper discusses the acquisition of second-language skills through the use of visual aids. In teaching English as a second language, pictures, slides, and film loops are usually presented with appropriate, and more or less predictable, spoken or written English. These visual images, however, may arouse interests beyond the answers provided by…

A study examines the relationship among the variables of practice, instruction and performance of adult learners of English as a second language. It is concluded that formal instruction is the most important determinant of student performance at intermediate and advanced levels because it provides a structural environment for feedback. (Author/RM)

Students should be prepared psychologically before they begin studying a foreign language to make them disposed to practice the language rather than study it. More emphasis should be placed on the functional/notional aspect of a language than on the structural aspect. (CFM)

Associating a clear function with verb forms will minimize difficulties for ESL learners. One important function in most learning situations is description. An area of "core description" pivoting on the stem and stem plus "s" verb forms can be established and learners can express most concepts in core terms. (CHK)

Some of the problems encountered by elementary grade second language pupils when they do uncontextualized written exercises in numbered lists from a course book are discussed. Ways to partially overcome such problems are suggested. (RM)

Analyzes the difference between "ultimate-target language" (authentic English in all its varieties), "learner's language" (with its limitations), and "learning-goal language," this latter referring to differentiated instruction with graded "input" steps. Teaching suggestions are given. (IFS/WGA)

Some methods of teaching narrative are outlined, using an approach stressing the correlation of verb form and language function. Emphasis is placed on the salient features of narrative, notably chronological sequence. Actual teaching material shows how tabulation and information transfer techniques can be employed in story-telling. (CHK)

Paper prepared under contract with the Defense Language Institute, English Language Branch, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and presented to the staff and faculty of the Institute in May 1972. (RS)

A study was conducted to determine if informal learners of ESL had the same acquisition order of morphemes as formal learners have and to find out what would happen to the established order if only certain of the grammatical morphemes were explained and drilled. Instruction did not change acquisition order. (Author/KM)

The teacher of English as a second language can perform valuable language research in the classroom. Types of research include: natural language acquisition; small-scale pedagogical intervention; and large-scale methodology in long-range studies. Procedures for formulating research questions, hypotheses and design are outlined. (CHK)

This article presents the theoretical and practical implications of a psycholinguistic model which exploits students' knowledge about language and which incorporates attitudinal variables into a strategy for teaching foreign language grammar. (DB)