Explores the different ways in which the term "competence" has been used in linguistics, considers the difficulties that arise when the term is used outside the domain for which it was originally intended. Making a clear distinction between "competence" and "proficiency" helps to resolve these difficulties. (Author/CB)

Investigation of non-native English speakers' ratings of other non-native English learners' oral proficiency. Results indicate that the judges' ratings significantly differed, and the average of three judges' ratings was a better appraisal of the testee's true ability than that of any single rating or pair of ratings. (Author/CB)

Presents preliminary results of a study on the association of field dependence/independence to success in language tasks and in language-learning programs of varying orientations and discusses implications of these results for second-language instruction. (CB)

Presents the 1986 proficiency guidelines for Russian developed by the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The guidelines cover speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills for the levels of novice, intermediate, advanced, and superior. (CB)

Reaffirms the view of language represented by the term "communicative competence" as it is used in linguistic research. Criticizes the view of language use reflected in the Provisional Proficiency Guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. (SED)

Discusses validation studies of three British English language proficiency tests--the English Proficiency Test Battery, the English Language Battery, and the English Language Testing Service. Concludes that valid language tests depend on test constructors' knowledge of language and on their judgment as to the parameters of language proficiency.…

Looks at some of the methods of testing foreign language learning which are closely related to, yet pre-date, Wilson Taylor's cloze procedure. These include the Ebbinghaus Completion Method, which was first reported in 1897 and was used to test mental ability. Describes later modifications of the Ebbinghaus Method. (SED)

Reports on the findings of the College Board's "Academic Preparation for College," with respect to the foreign language preparedness of secondary-school students. Reveals a shocking, intellectually crippling decline in student preparation. Supports the recommendations of the foreign language statement of the Green Book. (DMM)

A study determining that a single test incorporating several special features can adequately place and evaluate native speakers and nonnative learners of Spanish is described. The description of native speaker proficiency is also refined. (MSE)

This paper describes a research project in which volunteers, self-selected from IALS students preparing for one or more of the Cambridge English Examinations, kept journals. Following guidelines, they reflected on their in-class and outside-of-class experiences in the 8 weeks leading up to the exams. They also attended four biweekly meetings with…

This paper asserts that in a world that has accomplished globalization by engulfing itself in the world of technology, the world of translation must not be too quick to join the bandwagon. Providing translators or students of translation with computerized translation tools is not the link to what makes the individual an effective translator.…

Arab learners of English encounter a serious problem with collocational sequences. The present study purports to determine the extent to which university English language majors can use English collocations properly. A two-form translation test of 16 Arabic collocations was administered to both graduate and undergraduate students of English. The…

Second and concluding part of a continued article. (SK)

Concluding part of a continued article. (SK)