For higher education, two recent changes in world language practices are crucial: the emergence of English as the default language of international communication, and the technology of the Internet. The first appears to have contributed to problems of motivation for English-speaking learners of foreign languages. Information is provided about…

A growing body of research recognizes the pervasive difficulties involved in accommodating multilingual practices in the English language classroom and acknowledges that one aspect of this conundrum is the role that languages play in the constitution of student identities. Such studies point to how students use off-stage spaces to covertly engage…

Global English is under contestation. Although some consider lingua franca English (LFE) as a neutral medium or code that does not belong to any specific culture or nationality, others see the deceptive nature of this linguistic globalization. Along with Spring (2007/this issue), they see global English as embodying partisan interests and values.…

The review of research presented here examines studies based on Benjamin Whorf's hypothesis of linguistic relativity, which states that cultural traditions encourage certain types of thinking and are reinforced by structural characteristics of particular languages. Studies were selected for inclusion if: (1) the subjects were learners and speakers…

A study investigated the nature and causes of the English language-based problems and the coping strategies of 44 Indonesian and 57 Malaysian students studying at Indiana University, Bloomington. The Indonesian and Malaysian student groups represented non-Commonwealth and Commonwealth students sharing the same native language roots but differed in…

Principles and strategies for learning second languages for the purpose of effective intercultural communication are discussed, with particular reference to the teaching of English, the dominant foreign language in Denmark. In the first section, the official, relatively open-ended Danish goals for English language teaching are outlined. The second…

A study investigated patterns of usage of French connectors (e.g., "alors,""mais,""puisque") among Chinese university students of French as a foreign language. The study arose from concern that the lack of connector usage contributed to a lack of coherence in the students' oral and written language. Subjects were 45…

A discussion of the language needs of adolescents as they relate to second language instruction suggests that for this large population of learners, language needs have not really been considered seriously. It is also proposed that because of the fluidity of the term "language needs," the focus should instead be on second language communication…

The purpose of the report is to explain why so many different types of people in so many different parts of the country need languages in their work, and why students planning their education in preparation for certain kinds of careers should be aware of these needs. The focus is mainly on language as an auxiliary skill, on the careers in which…

The purpose of this research was to frame a hypothesis accounting for the observed behavior of particular children in a contact language area, in an attempt to understand their linguistic learning processes. The community involved was the township of Benque Viejo at the Guatemalan frontier, and the four informants, aged 10-13, spoke varying…

Russian word order is varied to suit the communicative requirements of the speaker. The present study tests the hypothesis that American students of Russian use word order differently from native speakers, using the same order for different communicative tasks. Study results support the hypothesis. (CHK)

The role and benefits of teaching Chinese in high schools are discussed. Knowledge of China and its language are important in teaching students to become world citizens, journalists, or businessmen. High school Chinese study enhances and broadens college studies. Colleges should cooperate with high schools in organizing materials and programs.…

This article presents a glossodynamic model for language learning. It takes a humanistic approach involving the desire and ability to communicate and analyzing a speaker's personality and attitudes. Factors and functions of communication are discussed. (CHK)

Quotations from immigrants to Canada are used to illustrate some of the processes of second language learning within a very different culture: awareness of the environment's newness, first impressions, sense of nationality, broken images, initial confusion and bewilderment, concepts of nearness and remoteness, gradual understanding, and emotional…

Argues for an awareness on the part of employers and teachers of the important role language skills can play in industry. (AM)