Describes a pilot study that aimed at gaining insights into how language learners benefit from training in interlingual subtitling. The study showed that students' communication competence in both their first and second language improved while they simultaneously mastered transferable skills. (Author/VWL)

Evaluates the commonly held idea that girls are better language learners than boys. Results indicate that boys are not weaker in any of the language skill areas tested. Recommends that future research concentrate on the sex and image of the teacher. (EKN)

Discusses the phenomenon of communicative language testing as it emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a reaction against tests constructed of multiple choice items and the perceived overemphasis of reliability. Traces the legacy of the communicative movement from its first formulation, through present conundrums, to tomorrow's research…

Discusses the second language production of adults when responding to the same stimuli (the SLOPE test) under two conditions: (1) unmonitored, when giving spontaneous oral responses and (2) monitored, when giving written responses without time limit constraints. (EKN)

An experimental test consisting of dialogue with intermittent pauses for responses and a white noise accompaniment was given to non-English speakers who were candidates for admission to the English Department at Bar Ilan University in order to evaluate aural comprehension. Development of the test and results are reported. (RM)

Reviews recent research into the qualitative and quantitative aspects of fluency to more clearly define the word as a performance descriptor for oral assessment of foreign language learners and as an indicator of progress in language learning. The concept of fluency is confused and multilayered when used in the assessment of oral performance. (22…

Examines the Variable Competence (VC) approach to second language acquisition (SLA) by defining what is meant by VC and looking at the variable rules and how they are acquired. The research implications of VC models are examined, presenting arguments for and against their use in applied linguistic research in language testing and SLA. (32…

Attempts to look at the question of selection and sequencing in light of recent research into the nature of spoken English. Specifically, it is argued that a lexical metasyllabus based on statistical regularities in spoken and written language would be a useful tool to curriculum designers. (Author/VWL)

Reviews research on the use of the "T-Unit" as a measure of language ability, demonstrating that the measure has limited utility in the case of second language, since it bases itself solely on syntax and does not reward speakers for sophistication in such areas as vocabulary. (Author/CB)

One approach to language learning unites insight into explicit rules, systematic drill and contextual communication. By thinking, creating and speaking, language rules are created and transferred to other situations. Repeated remodelling of sentences seems to yield fastest learning. (CHK)

Reviews the research on first and second language acquisition, enumerates some basic features of human language learning, and discusses implications for the foreign language classroom. (RM)

The assignment of primary stress to English words by a group of Arab speakers was studied by having the speakers pronounce both different types of words and validated nonsense words. Results indicate that newly concocted words may not be correctly pronounced by a significant number of subjects selected from the same populations. (18 references)…

English language teaching is a field in transition as it seeks new approaches and reexamines older ones in an effort to address the range and level of proficiency required in today's global community. Describes the context of the transitional period, discusses contributions of second language acquisition theory and research, and reviews classroom…

Examines the relationship between and the relevance of second language acquisition (SLA) and language testing (LT). The relevance of LT to SLA is examined based on written interviews with leading scholars in SLA who were asked about the relevance of LT to their work. (Author/VWL)

Sequence of consonants in English and Arabic is discussed phonologically. It is suggested that such detailed contrastive studies are useful to: (1) second language teachers in pinpointing areas for classroom attention, (2) language typologists, and (3) typists and printers. (JB)