Discusses the incorporation of "service-learning" into college curricula. Describes a project linking classroom language to the target culture. Results indicate that students increase their awareness of the communicative value of the target language, reflect on their own learning, and learn a second language in context. (eight…

Drawing from a project at Coventry University (England), this article discusses innovative ways to exploit computer-assisted language learning (CALL) methods in the classroom. Particular focus is on Role Reversal, an approach that transforms students into designers of their own courseware as a means of addressing the problem of grammar…

This article examines how to interpret reading problems among individuals with a home language (L1) that is different from the language of instruction in school (L2). A tentative model is proposed where the various factors involved in L2 reading are specified, providing guidelines for assessment strategies. (Contains references.) (CR)

Examined perceptions of Jewish ethnic group identity relative to attitudinal/motivational processes in the learning of Hebrew, French, and, in some cases, Yiddish by anglophone Jewish-Canadian high school and university students. The Jewish Ethnodynamic Questionnaire was administered to assess student attitudes regarding Jewish identity. 87…

Having children make useful, decorative, and stimulating articles in the second-language classroom is seen as a means of encouraging student participation and active learning. Specific classroom procedures for using this technique to enhance second-language acquisition are suggested. (MSE)

Studied the effect of content knowledge on learners' participation in interactions between nonnative speakers. Measures of participation included amount of talk, conversational fillers, back channels, topic moves, clarification questions, and confirmation and comprehension checks. Findings support the relationship between knowledge and…

Discusses the evaluation of second and foreign language programs, focusing on whether such evaluations should be summative or formative; use outside experts or program staff; emphasize qualitative or quantitative data; and concentrate on the process or the product. An annotated bibliography discusses six important works in the field. (78…

Examines how technology aids the interactional orientation of Communicative Language Teaching (CLT) by focusing on two major aspects of CLT that promote interaction: (1) the realistic use of language and (2) a learner-centered emphasis. A balanced use of technology is emphasized in order not to overwhelm the language program. (56 references) (CK)

Emphasizes the need for students to develop their editing skills. This article suggests that teachers and students should concentrate on major error patterns, and teachers should personalize editing instruction. Attention should also be given to the most frequent and glaring errors. Students who followed this editing approach significantly reduced…

The English compositions of two groups of Hong Kong secondary school students learning English as a Second Language were compared. Results found that students who used computer word processors, on the whole, wrote better compositions than students who used pen and paper. (46 references) (MDM)

Examines the problems associated with interlanguage in French immersion and how teachers can use the writing process to help students develop the target language. It is suggested that language can be mediated through conferencing sessions, and in so doing, propel students into their zone of proximal development. (15 references) (Author/CK)

Presents various approaches that have been used in multicultural education in England. Research on Gujeratis in Britain is used to illustrate the process of theory construction. (12 references) (LT)

A test of the ability of adult Japanese and Korean students to perceive correct and misarticulated /r/ involved tape recordings of native English speakers and the students themselves. Comparison of the results "subjects made more errors perceiving their own speech" with similar research on first- and second-language acquisition has pedagogical…

The results of a letter exchange project involving bilingual and English-as-a-Second Language students in grades one through nine are reported. Classroom activities that can be generated from letter writing are described. These activities relate to language arts, social studies, math, science, art, music, cooking, and dramatics. (LB)

The 1987-89 survey represents the Modern Language Association's first effort to collect information from the stratified random sample of foreign language programs established in 1988. Topics include requirements, faculty characteristics, language coordinator functions, faculty role in governance, curricula, course offerings, enrollment, numbers of…