Explores episodes of classroom interaction in which there is unplanned attention to form. Data consist of periodic recordings of learners in intensive English classes over a period of 8 weeks. Analysis of data points to a strong connection between attention to form and subsequent use of those forms and indicates that this connection is affected by…

Discusses second language acquisition and the use of multimedia that allows learners to be actively engaged in the language learning process, based on experiences at an Australian university teaching Chinese to English and Japanese students. Considers the phonological level, the semantic level, the syntactic level, and the discourse level. (LRW)

Truscott and Sharwood Smith (henceforth T&SS) propose a novel theory of language acquisition, "Acquisition by Processing Theory" (APT), designed to account for both first and second language acquisition, monolingual and bilingual speech perception and parsing, and speech production. This is a tall order. Like any theoretically ambitious…

The present article highlights the importance of the motivational construct for the foreign language learning (FLL) process. More specifically, in the present article it is argued that motivation is likely to play a significant role at all three stages of the FLL process as they are discussed within the information processing model of FLL, namely,…

Classrooms around the world are becoming more multilingual and teachers in all subject areas are faced with new challenges in enabling learners' academic language development without losing focus on content. These challenges require new ways of conceptualizing the relationship between language and content as well as new pedagogies that…

Online templates have the potential to scaffold complex writing processes and to provide information and language prompts for writers. The purpose of this study is threefold. First, for assisting students in their scholarly writing, an online Scholarly Writing Template (SWT) was designed and developed. SWT includes two major features: (1) an…

The negotiation of integrated home and school identities of 3 second grade Hispanic English language learners (ELLs) included in an English-dominant classroom are explored through sociocultural paradigms, with an emphasis on the role of the individual's agency in the social construction of identities. In addition, we examine the conditions within…

Three areas of research (second language acquisition (SLA), foreign languages (FL), and foreign language learning (FLL) are examined briefly and distinguished, and their relationship is discussed. The definition of FLL is then considered in greater detail. It is proposed that as an area of inquiry, FLL is characterized by specific features of its…

This study explored the relationship between conceptual level, a social cognitive variable, and second language communicative competence. The subjects were female secondary school students in five second-year French classes. The research hypotheses stated that conceptual level was related to the development of communicative competence while…

Reviews the relationship between linguistic theory and language teaching. The suggestion is made that a teaching approach should not be based completely on one theory, be it structuralist or generative. In selecting an approach, the teacher should draw selectively on various linguistic theories, on educational psychology, and on practical…

Criticizes current theory in the GDR, which sees three stages in FL learning: acquisition, solidifying, automatizing. Steps 1 and 3 need modifying. This is shown in the threefold division of a class hour ("Development of oral practice through variation of a dialog"). (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

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)

It is argued that the close relationship between learning and testing is best exemplified in achievement tests, which are designed both to reinforce learning and to provide feedback about the effectiveness of teaching. Of the four types of achievement tests (placement, formative, diagnostic, and summative), two (formative and diagnostic) are…

This paper describes the complex issues that block the language teacher's progress towards better teaching and learning. The issues are problematic, for they involve political, financial, organizational, and sociological concerns. All teachers need encouragement in the form of central support, improved career prospects, and value attributed to…

Five current theoretical approaches to second language learning are examined: practice, problem-solving, creative construction, monitoring, and personality development. The points in each approach that are most controversial and those that require further clarifying research are reviewed. It is concluded that in at least three major areas,…