This book offers new insights and information on why students in high-poverty schools struggle with literacy achievement and what specific factors promote success. Findings from a unique study are translated into clear recommendations for enriching the classroom environment at different grade levels and helping all children, including English…

Unsuccessful college education often turns our students into book haters who will stop reading as soon as they graduate. The idea of literature circles embraces the concept of "reading for fun" and is intended to create more independent readers and book addicts who will continuously read for the rest of their lives. Pioneers in literacy…

This study offers a portrait of the schooling experiences of black South African student teachers. Approximately 1,000 students were involved in the study, which was conducted over 5 years. The project was designed to help the instructor examine curriculum studies courses for their ability to enable student teachers to reflect on their own…

A study investigated whether or not second language (L2) learners who are exposed to naturalistic and/or mixed contexts (i.e., living and studying the language where it is the dominant language in use) appropriate nonverbal forms of communication, and specifically whether gestures are reconceptualized in the L2. Subjects were two…

This paper describes a method of investigating the role and impact of electronic peer/teacher feedback on the revision process of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) writers. Participants are classes of intermediate or advanced college bound ESL writers who meet in Internet-accessible classrooms. They perform their writing and peer responses online…

Each of these three separately-published textbook/workbook editions on the topic of recycling presents key vocabulary words relating to this topic for English as a Second Language students in six languages. These books are designed to increase students' understanding of what the most typical local recycling rules are, why complying with them is…

Reviews impact of Canadian French immersion research on theoretical conceptions of bilingualism and biliteracy and identifies four major issues: effects of bilingualism on children's cognitive and academic development; effects of intensity of school exposure to the second language; the "optimal age" issue; and the suitability of a…

Long exposure to French, verbal ability in one's native tongue, general intelligence, and ability grouping were correlated with competence in French as a foreign language. The Swedish policy of mixing beginning French students who vary in ability and motivation was questioned. (CP)

Investigated pragmatic transfer in American learners of Japanese responding to compliments. The study used a closed role play to collect interlanguage data from the learners and normative data from Japanese and American native speakers. Findings substantiate a utility of pragmatic transfer research for improving instructional approach and course…

Examined the efficacy of the keyword method versus rote rehearsal in learning foreign language vocabulary. Findings revealed that in experienced foreign language learners, rote learners' performance excelled that of keyword learners, whereas in experienced learners, rote and keyword learners recalled the same proportion of words, although the…

Examines the hypothesis that learners focus their attention on lexical instead of grammatical items when processing input for semantic information. The study measured language processing via reconstruction of propositional content and recognition of verb tense within a passage. Results indicate that lexical cues improved reconstruction of a…

Describes an exploratory study that attempted to discover the patterns of linguistic interaction of second language learners in a computerized literary reading environment and the implication of using computer books in an ESL (English-as-a-Second-Language) elementary school classroom. (LRW)

Reviews the challenges and benefits of using multimedia instructional technology to teach intermediate business Spanish at Thunderbird American Graduate School of International Management (Arizona). Challenges were technical and administrative support requirements, technical training needs, and locating quality materials. Benefits included learner…

Highlights the importance of the dynamics of the learner group in shaping the second language (L2) learning process, and overviews the most relevant aspects of classroom dynamics. Argues that group characteristics and processes affect any success or failure in the L2 classroom and that teachers could benefit from an awareness of the principles of…

Analyzes the computer program, "Question Mark," produced in England and designed to be a testing tool for large second-language classes. Using this tool, it is possible to create and edit up to 500 questions using any one of 8 different question types. The program also can provide a running score for students using it. Notes that student…