Focuses on listening activities in the second-language classroom. After discussing problems related to listening and listening as a test versus listening as a learning experience, the article suggests that the teacher exploit what is known about the language and the world to make listening part of a learning whole as opposed to a distinct…

Analyzes the policies and practices of school in Japan that serve large numbers of bilingual students. Using the notion of imagined communities, examines the relationship between the schools' visions for their students, their current policies and practices, and the students' identities. (Author/VWL)

Investigates English-as-a-Second-Language classes in Auckland, New Zealand to compare the frequency and characteristics of incidental focus on form episodes occurring in these classes. (Author/VWL)

Examined the effect of teaching direct learning strategies and their subcategories on the vocabulary retention of English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) learners. Participants of the study were 60 female EFL learners, aged 15-17. (Author/VWL)

Focuses on efforts to improve standards of English among seafarers, including a top-down approach to language learning utilized by industry regulators and training establishments. Considers the effectiveness of top-down approaches to language development, drawing on ethnographic research conducted aboard vessels with multilingual crews.…

Discusses the latest developments of an empirical project about the mental processes of students with both mono-cultural and bi-cultural socialization in foreign language literature courses. (Author/VWL)

Surveys the growing body of research on formulaic language units--or ready-made chunks and sequences of words. Evidence suggests that these multi-word lexical units facilitate long-term memory storage and fluent language production. Examines formulaic language acquisition in children and adults and discusses applications for teaching. (Author/VWL)

Suggests that a good strategy for helping English language learners to develop communicative competence in English is by pairing them with native English speakers. In such conversation programs, conversation partners should be provided with topics and activities that incorporate the goals, interests, and experiences of the learners. Recommends…

Reports on a content-based elementary Chinese as a foreign language program. Focuses on classroom language activities that are designed and implemented to serve the dual goals of language development and cultural learning. Investigated how classroom activities are organized to integrate culture/content and language learning for young beginners.…

Defines continuous role playing in foreign language teaching suggestopedia (as practiced in Bulgaria); discusses how to achieve and sustain it; and considers its advantages, disadvantages and relevance. The article notes that the balancing role of the teacher is crucial to the techniques employed in the classroom dialogs. (10 references) (CK)

Discusses the use of film in the classroom as a tool for second-language instruction. Argues that controversial subject matter, such as sex, violence, and profane language, can enhance students' learning experience and deepen their critical thinking skills if treated sensitively and in a pedagogically sound manner. (12 references) (Author/CK)

Discusses reactions of foreign language departments with declining enrollments and hence less funds and the impulse to shift a focus on the means and purpose of instruction. Suggests that it is important to preserve face-to-face direct coaching in language learning and to expose students to the Western European heritage that shapes the experience…

Reviews recent research on incidental vocabulary acquisition in second language. Discusses key unresolved issues such as the actual mechanism of incidental acquisition, type and size of vocabulary needed for accurate guessing, degree of exposure to a word needed for successful acquisition, efficacy of different word-guessing strategies, value of…

Examined code-mixing, a little-known technique used in teaching vocabulary. Found that using code-mixing to introduce new vocabulary can be an efficient and effective method. Discusses procedures and cognitive processes involved in vocabulary learning and explains the use of code mixing to introduce vocabulary. (Author/VWL)

Reports a case study of a Mandarin Chinese as a foreign language program for third and fourth graders in a Canadian elementary school. Attempts to investigate the feasibility of adopting a content-based approach to achieve the dual goals of language and culture learning for young beginners. (Author/VWL)