A representative sample of 4,000 adults aged 16 and over in all three nations of Great Britain were surveyed regarding the languages they currently speak, their current participation in language learning, and their future language-learning intentions. The following were among the key findings: (1) 29% of adults can speak one foreign language, and…

The importance of context in vocabulary learning is evident from two common-sense observations: what a word means often depends on the context in which it is used, and people pick up much of their vocabulary knowledge from context, apart from explicit instruction. Available evidence supports a relatively strong version of each of these…

This bibliography offers a listing of German language instructional resource texts, videorecordings, kits, and films on many subjects, available from the provincial library of Manitoba (Canada). Resources are listed alphabetically by title. Each listing includes general bibliographic information, including catalogue number, appropriate grade…

The Greensboro Area Mathematics and Science Education Center and the Center for School Accountability and Staff Development sponsored a conference in May, 1998 which focused on the similarities and differences in teaching and learning in mathematics and science compared to learning in other content areas. This document contains the background…

These three Spanish language spelling units have been developed for Spanish language arts classes for grades 1-3. The first grade units, which accompany the Economy Co. Spanish basal reading series for grades 1-3, have been divided into four sub-units. The children move individually or in small groups through the spelling levels, which in turn…

This literature review examines a hypermedia learning environment from a semantic network basis and the application of such an environment to second language learning. (A semantic network is defined as a conceptual representation of knowledge in human memory). The discussion is organized under the following headings and subheadings: (1) Advantages…

This review of research considers both the similarities and differences between adult learners and learners who are children, and applies the findings to second language instruction. First, similarities between children and adults have to do with involving as many senses as possible in learning, allowing for emotional involvement of learners,…

Suggestions are given for two types of programs: the general bilingual education program and the Vietnamese Refugee Program. (AG)

A child's pre-school years may be the most active learning period; for children in a bicultural community, the home language is the best in which to begin reading study, and a teacher should endeavor to minimize cultural shock to maximize learning in the primary grades. (CK)

On behalf of a national committee advising the Australian Minister of Education, two consultants prepared separate evaluations of language policy statements from the states of Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland. The three statements all support the teaching of languages other than English (LOTEs) in the public school system, but differ…

This bibliography of materials concerning microcomputer use in education, emphasizing second language learning, has three sections: an annotated selected bibliography, an unannotated bibliography, and a resource guide. The annotated section consists of 69 entries of reports and journal articles, organized alphabetically by year of publication…

Two concepts common in the literature concerning the affective dimension of personality are attitude and motivation. Motivation is an energizing agency producing activity congruent with the learner's underlying emotional disposition. Favorable attitudes provide endurance to the motivation necessary for prolonged application to learning. In second…

It was hypothesized that the use of fading in response items of stimulus-response pairs constructed to simulate learning of a foreign language vocabulary would result in fewer errors than would the use of regular flash cards used in typical trial-and-error fashion. Subjects were college women volunteers randomly assigned to one of two experimental…

The second language (French or English) learning activity portion of Katimavik, a nine-month volunteer community service and experiential learning program for 17 to 21-year-old Canadians, provides an opportunity for living in a French language environment with other people who speak French, or, for participants whose native language is French, to…

The article outlines the need to eliminate rote-learning and pure imitative strategies in second language learning, particularly in the areas of syntax and semantics. Theoretical foundations for this need are discussed, with reference to the coding hypothesis for memory functions in language learning. Results of experimental investigations are…