Compares 39 native teachers' and 41 native nonteachers' perception of elementary learners' spoken Japanese. Interviews between a native speaker and a learner were audiotaped, and the 80 natives evaluated them according to grammar, fluency, vocabulary, appropriateness, comprehensibility and pronunciation. Results indicate teachers are more critical…

A group of college-level Spanish students received metacognitive awareness raising--a single session that, by means of brainstorming, involved students in developing a general awareness of language learning strategies. Final course grades were compared across control and experimental groups, revealing significantly higher scores for the latter.…

Questionnaire data from 484 Israeli tenth graders studying Arabic showed that Gardner's socioeducational model for second language learning was generalizable to the context of the present study (i.e., a different social context from that in which the model was developed). (23 references) (Author)

Presents the sources and solutions of listening-comprehension anxiety as reported by foreign-language students and discusses the pedagogical implications that relate to the results. (Author/VWL)

Explains how selections from "English Teaching Forum" articles were incorporated into methodology courses to form a successful 30-hour semester. The pilot course, which has five groups of students studying methodology, concluded with a questionnaire that brought a vast majority of enthusiastic responses.(Author/VWL)

Thirty-seven post-secondary students were studied over one semester in intensive English-as-a-Second-Language or degree programs, with a focus on their English language development and adaptation to Canadian life and study. Data were gathered through ongoing informal contact and pre- and post-administration of a detailed questionnaire, an English…

A study in interlanguage pragmatics investigated the effect of three types of rejoinder (positive, negative, absent) on non-native informants' choices of strategies to perform complaints, requests, and apologies. Results show strategy choice differentially affected by rejoinder type, suggesting that findings from studies using different production…

Replicates previous research on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for language learning in French Canadian students of English and considers the relations between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and integrative orientation. Quebecois university students completed a questionnaire addressing their reasons for learning English. (Author/VWL)

Provides the results of a survey of Irish language instructors at tertiary level institutions in the United States. Identifies the Irish textbooks in use, assesses students' needs and goals, and refers to research articles involving syllabus design. Data from the survey provides rich data that will serve to inform future textbook designers.…

Investigates the role of the three major languages in Hong Kong by looking in depth at one secondary school where Putonghua has official status rather than English or Cantonese. Motivation for code choice is investigated through interviews and questionnaires. While Putongua has a special role in the school, the use of Cantonese was found to…

Investigated the language experience of second-generation immigrant Korean American school-age children (4-18 years) by surveying their parents. Reports responses to a small portion of the questionnaire that specifically addressed the issue of birth order. (Author/VWL)

Reports views of Hispanic cultures held by a group of high school students who were studying Spanish as a foreign language. Students' perceptions of Hispanic cultures were culled from comments they made during an instructional activity, an interview, a questionnaire, and follow-up interviews. Findings overall revealed some degree of empathy toward…

Looks at Chinese learners in New Zealand to investigate the negative effects of anxiety on linguistic performance. Particular focus is on a kind of anxiety that has come to be known as communication apprehension. Discusses an action research project conducted in a high school that shows sources of communication anxiety. (Author/VWL)

Examines common preconceptions about Asian students and their learning attitudes, in particular the belief that they see the teacher as an authority figure and source of learning. Students in three Asian countries responded to three statements that reflect these attitudes. Results underscore the need to explore in greater depth the nature and…

Assessing use of language learning strategies has become commonplace around the world. One strategy assessment tool is the questionnaire, which usually asks students to report on their typical, general use of language learning strategies. Because of this general focus, most questionnaires do not require respondents to complete an actual language…