Examines whether gender influences pragmatic transfer of topic development behavior in informal conversation by focusing on Japanese learners of English. Analysis of paired first language and second language mixed-gender conversations suggests learners are constrained to gender-specific modes of interaction--meaning male self-oriented and female…

Specialized styles of English pose difficulties for speakers of other languages. Training strategies include estimating readability, simplifying language, and dealing with features at the level of word, sentence, paragraph, and passage. (SK)

Some researchers have argued that voice is irrelevant to academic writing and that the importance of voice has been overstated in the professional literature [Helms-Park, R., & Stapleton, P. (2003). Questioning the importance of individualized voice in undergraduate L2 argumentative writing: an empirical study with pedagogical implications.…

Argues that literature should have a place in the language learning process. Since colloquial and literary styles overlap, it is felt that the two styles should not remain separated in actual life. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Special issue devoted to the second conference on structuro-global-audio-visual methodology, at Mons, Belgium, 1971; text of a talk which formed the basis of discussion during the conference. (VM)

An examination of different types of hesitation in the speech of learners of French as a foreign language reveals several times as much hesitation as native speakers experience, with slowed speech apparent in the speech of foreign language learners. (MSE)

Suggests the use of fairy tales in German foreign language instruction at the intermediate level. This suggestion is established using features of the Grimm genre and clarified using concrete examples. (Author/DMK)

This dissertation reports development and validation studies of a Web-based standardized test of Japanese as a foreign language (JFL), designed to measure learners' off-line grammatical and pragmatic knowledge in multiple-choice format. Targeting Japanese majors in the U.S. universities and colleges, the test is designed to explore possible…

The classroom practices discussed in "Effective Second Language Writing" reflect various trends and methodologies; however, the underlying theme in this volume of the Classroom Practice Series is the need for clear and meaningful communication between ESL writers and their readers. While approaches differ, two core beliefs are constant: ESL…

Problems and methods of teaching practical stylistics to students of Russian are discussed. (RM)

Reports on an experiment designed to test the reliability of the cloze procedure in second language testing, specifically as a measure of overall language proficiency, and as a measure whose results are independent of style. (AM)

Suggests that the notion of "normal" English as opposed to "literary" English leads to a considerably oversimplified view of how language is used. Suggests that courses be designed to increase the understanding of stylistic variation by advanced students of English so that they can improve their receptive and productive skills. (SED)

Discusses, with many examples, a new Russian dictionary by D. Rosental and M. Telenkowa which is considered excellent for advanced students of Russian because it not only provides information on spelling, punctuation, stress and grammar but also on the levels of usage of both words and constructions. (Text is in German.) (FB)