Testimony on behalf of the Joint National Committee for Languages, the Modern Language Association, and the National Humanities Alliance is presented. Topics include the growth in the language field, new research, growing national recognition of the need to expand foreign language study, business/industry support, and federal government…

A study was conducted in which Nominal Compounds (NCs) were examined and classified in the field of chemistry from introductory texts. Some pedagogical implications of this study could be to teach the high-frequency semantic relations in NCs at the beginning stages. (16 references) (JL)

Addresses the applicability of philosophers' insights regarding science to second-language acquisition. The generation of new hypotheses is an important component of theory construction. The role of reason in discovery is examined, as is the coincidence of interests between individual scientists and the institution of science. (Contains 99…

This article examines the effects of some of the testing procedures used in current second-language reading research on learners' performance on these tasks and suggests guidelines for developing future research instruments and classroom reading comprehension tests. (Contains 40 references.) (VWL)

University students of Spanish at three different course levels were used in a study of the effects of topic familiarity on second-language listening comprehension. Findings regarding the supporting role of background knowledge are consistent with many second-language reading and listening studies. (Contains 45 references.) (LB)

Current definitions of literacy reflect a holistic view of reading and writing as linguistic enterprises situated in social and intellectual contexts. This article reviews early reading and writing, aspects of comprehension, reading/writing learning problems, and second and foreign language literacy. (99 references) (LB)

Discusses specific points from and provides a critical review of "Lessons from the Learner," an ideas resource book for learning, coming from the learner, that is meant to help teachers empower students to produce and work with their own material/preparation. (GLR)

Observational studies have shown that very little time is devoted to comprehension instruction in reading classes. This paper presents some techniques for comprehension instruction and some guidance on how to teach students to apply the reading skills they have learned. (26 references) (Author/LB)

Information technology from the rhythm of African drumbeats to electronic communication is described to introduce the importance of reaching out to various groups to facilitate global understanding and language learning. (LB)

An electronic version of Yu-gong Yi Shan, an ancient Chinese fable, is discussed as a prototype of the use of technology for Chinese teaching and learning. Yu-gong demonstrates how hypermedia can be designed to overcome the linear, static, and silent constraints of book technology. (four references) (Author/LB)

Self-instruction, more likely applied to adult learners, depended on the extent to which learners more or less consciously make decisions about aspects of the learning situation and control them. Issues of control are discussed and examples of relevant learning situations are offered, including group work and computer-assisted learning. (16…

Ways for language teachers to make effective use of a class library are suggested with focus on selection of suitable books, provision of sufficient reading time in class, and varieties of library activities for primary schools. The Hong Kong approach is cited. (LB)

Discussion of multilingual teaching environments focuses on the development of instructional software that is able to change the language of the on-screen presentation. Benefits for second-language learning are discussed, programing methods are explained, and an example of a software program in English and in German is given. (LRW)

Examines whether vocabulary acquisition in a foreign language by inferring the meaning of a word from its context makes an important contribution toward the retention of the word in question so long as the meaning is correctly guessed. (49 references) (GLR)

As occupational mobility becomes an increasing focus in the European Union, it is framed by an education and training context rather than a labor-market framework. This context emphasizes acquisition of skills for transnational employment, including foreign language, intercultural competence, and transferable job skills. (SK)