Reports on a large-scale study on learner autonomy in language learning carried out with students and English teachers at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Examines the teachers' views of their roles and responsibilities, their assessment of their students'decision-making abilities and the autonomous language learning activities that they have…

Offers a brief overview of the field of individual differences in language learning, especially as they are reflected in learning styles, learning strategies, and affective variables. Touches on areas for further research. (Author/VWL)

Draws from sociolinguistic perspective, human development, school learning, and language policy to discuss conflicting claims about second-language learning in school. Differentiates between cultural context within micro cultures and school content within global macro culture. Asserts that educators should ensure that learners have access to the…

Discusses blogs, a short form of "weblog" or Web-based diaries or personal journals that are appearing on the Internet. Focuses on their description and background, basic use, educational applications, and advanced features. (Author/VWL)

Analysis of speech data from three adult elementary Spanish students, focusing on the acquisition of noun-phrase agreement and the copulas "ser" and "estar," revealed that learners could be classified as either form based or meaning based in terms of their strategic orientation to acquisition of the target language. (CB)

Presents an overview of some important issues of the last few years in second-language (L2) writing, including the processes of writing, the views of teachers of second-language writing, the role of the classroom, and the special demands placed on (L2) writers. (61 references) (GLR)

The computer software TOPIC is designed primarily for the acquisition and practice of topical vocabulary in context. It bridges the gap between ready-made "learnware" and authoring packages by meeting teacher and learner requirements. Sample exercises are provided. (Author/LB)

A typology of authoring programs in computer-assisted language learning (CALL) with different features (reconstruction, rearrangement, matching, transformation, multiple choice, vocabulary data bank, simulation) is presented. Examples of screen presentation methods and a catalog of teaching/learning software requirements are included. (Contains 12…

In a view of an ideal foreign- and second-language teaching enterprise, the author proposes a more caring, collaborative, and humanistic approach; i.e., a model shift. (LB)

This study examined the attitudes of 49 second-language students toward 2 language acquisition activities: grammar exercises and extensive reading of popular literature. Results showed, by a significant margin, student favored reading over grammar in both respects. (includes references) (JL)

Presents critical analysis of a paper "Testing Reading Comprehension Skills, Part One," in which the consideration concerns the inadequacy of taxonomies of skills to describe individual readers' processes and, hence, their usefulness in test construction. (15 references) (GLR)

Many theories of second-language acquisition (SLA) are oppositional, and culling may be necessary. Principled culling requires a rational approach to theory assessment, and the difficulty of identifying universally valid evaluation criteria makes this problematic. Assessment strategies used in other fields can be useful in SLA, but choice among…

Reviews research on native language (NL) listening, and discusses the importance of listening in second-language (L2) acquisition, factors that influence success or failure of comprehension of first-language or L2 messages, the role of listening in the L2 curriculum, posited models of NL and L2 listening comprehension, and proposed taxonomies of…

Examines five cognitive models for second-language acquisition (SLA) and assesses how each might account for the Pidginized interlanguage found in the early stages of second-language acquisition. (23 references) (JL)

This interview focuses on the qualities and characteristics of autonomous learners, the related concept of learner training, and self-assessment. (Contains eight references.) (JL)