This study investigates second language (L2) development of Spanish verbal morphology, subject omissions, and subject-verb (SV) inversions by learners in two different proficiency levels and learning contexts. Oral narratives from 40 L2 learners at the intermediate and advanced levels, both at home and in a study abroad (SA) program, were examined…

Study abroad (SA) is one of the flagship offerings among United States higher education institutions. Approximately 220,000 students studied abroad in the 2005/2006 academic year, 52.8% of whom studied on programs that lasted eight weeks or less. The effect of these short-term programs on second language development has been little investigated,…

In immersion programs, language is not directly taught, but rather embedded into the content of a lesson. The target language is the medium of the lesson, not the object of the instruction. A story provides a language experience and encourages students to participate actively in the lesson. Children are also more apt to learn and retain ideas and…

Discusses the effectiveness of student-created oral presentations and visual displays in helping second-language students personalize and internalize the second language, and proposes structural guidelines that provide students flexibility in developing Spanish-language drama, writing, and art activities. (CB)

Presents two-role scenarios involving persons with conflicting needs or interests to enhance foreign language students' strategic intervention language skills in realistic situations. The scenarios not only encourage students to think through strategies to resolve a problem or conflict but also use their language skills to communicate effectively…

Explores current uses of HyperLang, a sophisticated hypermedia authoring system that understands spoken speech, in computer-assisted foreign language learning. Software developers should adopt an educational and humanistic perspective in further developing this technology to ensure the creation of effective educational tools. (CB)

Describes one class' experience with Tele-class, where university students used a telephone-like device that showed a still picture of the speaker to talk with students in Spain, pointing out linguistic and cultural gains as well as limitations in enhancing motivation, language awareness, and cultural awareness. (13 references) (Author/CB)

Presents a nine-lesson plan that uses a French song to help improve Australian students' skills in the following areas: (1) translating from French into English; (2) listening for understanding; (3) listening for imitation; (4) oral imitation; (5) writing; and (6) researching. (CB)

Describes the development of an interactive videodisc package designed to give Japanese-speaking business students extensive exposure to, and practice with, spoken English in realistic situations. Package activities stress a non-coercive, user-centered, low anxiety approach that encourages language learning through exploration and experience…

A college faculty member points out that allowing students to write and perform their own foreign language plays improves listening, speaking, and writing skills and exposes the students to new idiomatic expressions and conversational patterns used in contextually relevant and culturally specific situations. (Author/CB)

Explores how the developmental needs of college English-as-a-Second-Language students can be met by placing them in a position of authority in relation to their reading texts, through activities that focus on the reader and the transactional nature of reading, which subsequently empower the reader and disempower the text. (CB)

Reports on a study designed to investigate the second language development of francophone children in an experimental intensive English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) program in Quebec. Results indicated that subjects outperformed students in regular ESL programs on listening and reading comprehension tests and in oral fluency and had more positive…

Measurement of quality of phonological input of 20 Saudi Arabian teachers of English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) indicated teachers trained in English-as-a-Second-Language environment showed far fewer incidences and types of phonological error than those trained in EFL environment. Little difference was found among teachers who taught in…