The acquisition of new skills over a life span is a remarkable human ability. This ability, however, is constrained by age of acquisition (AoA); that is, the age at which learning occurs significantly affects the outcome. This is most clearly reflected in domains such as language, music, and athletics. This article provides a perspective on the…

The second language learner, in acquiring grammatical rules, must draw hypotheses about language from exposure to examples and use these hypotheses for creating further utterances. Mistakes which force the formation of new hypotheses are a natural part of this process. A sample lesson taking these factors into consideration is presented. (FWB)

By reviewing historical background of mnemonic techniques in second language learning, detailing two imagery-based mnemonics and discussing theoretical interpretations of the mnemonics, this paper discusses the practical implications of the problem of transfer of learning to naturalistic situations. Also noted are classroom applications of…

This paper investigates various approaches to learning and their effect on performance of a cohort of international students in two different pedagogical environments. The effect of approaches to learning on performance was determined by using Cohen's "d" with Hedges "g" correction. Coe's spread sheet was used for the purpose.…

Recent years have seen the emergence of Web2.0, in which users are not only passive recipients of the featured content, but actively engaged in constructing it. Sites such as "Facebook" and "Myspace" are typical examples of this, as are blogs that allow users to present themselves online, to write about their daily lives or even to establish…

Vocabulary knowledge has long been considered critical to children's successful reading comprehension. When children increase their reserves of word meaning, they also broaden their thinking and become aware of new semantic and conceptual relationships. Their broadened awareness, in turn, increases reading comprehension and writing abilities. Many…

Bilingual education has been a focus in Taiwan especially alter the educational reform in 2002 (Ministry of Education, 2003). With the educational reform, many teaching methods and approaches had been explored and implemented recently to enhance English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education. The traditional teaching approaches focused on the…

Wikis represent a particular type of collaborative learning environment where collaboration can result in aggregated, collective products. This study makes the claim that such potential challenges language production practices in school where the individual learner's output is often the focus of attention. The argument is put forth by juxtaposing…

The Review (Dearing & King, 2007) will doubtless be judged less on its detailed content and standpoint and more on the impact it has on politicians' and ministers' priorities for teaching languages. For the Review is concerned with language "teaching" much more than with "learning". This is evident, for example, in the discussion of the consensus…

This article questioned the linguistic assumptions that underlie most language teaching and suggested that a clearer recognition of the communicative function of language might result in a more realistic and effective learning experience. (Author/RK)

The following articles are included: (1) "Neurolinguistic Considerations on the Optimum Age for Second Language Learning" by Terence M. Walsh and Karl C. Diller; (2) "Major Variation in Language Skills Apparently under Genetic Influence (Discussed from the Viewpoint of Human Evolution)" by Brenda K. Sladen; (3) "Language Learning Strategies: Does…

Two questions might be asked of psychologists by foreign language teachers: (1) What steps can be taken to maximize positive transfer and minimize negative transfer between native and target languages, and to what extent are those steps effective? (2) How can we predict the amount of facilitation or interference that will occur when a student…

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…

Proposes a model of second language learning that accounts for discrepancies both in individual achievement and achievement in different aspects of language learning. (Author/AM)

Presents some of Earl Stevick's ideas on language teaching and learning in the form of an informal interview. (EKN)