In response to the need for dynamic foreign language materials with a communicative focus, this report addresses the relationship between learner characteristics and success in language learning. It suggests that a self-pacing individualized option should be available to students to deal with unique problems. The problems may be dealt with by…

This paper examines: (1) the use of questions by children at different levels of proficiency in Spanish and English, and (2) the congruency between the language constructs used to measure language proficiency and the natural language repertoire of children as seen in video-tapes of classroom interaction. A quantitative analysis of the data…

This paper examines the questions of whether or not previous knowledge of Spanish (oral and/or written) interferes with an English as a second language (ESL) student's acquisition of English reading skills, which skills are affected, and what classroom techniques are successful in dealing with it. Two contrasting views of reading are examined:…

Topics covered in papers presented at an international meeting on foreign language methodology include the following: how to sort out the new approaches to foreign language teaching methods; unconscious assimilation in foreign language learning; the lack of concrete answers arrived at during this meeting; methodological considerations in applying…

Proponents of the cognitive approach to language teaching list linguistic competence as the primary instructional objective and attribute considerable importance to listening comprehension. For the student, linguistic competence would be knowledge of grammatical components of the language and its vocabulary. Understanding oral messages is an…

The Silent Way is a philosophy of foreign language teaching which emphasizes the importance of allowing learners to use their natural learning resources. This volume provides practical guidelines in connection with the following chapters: (1) "Freeing the Students"; (2) "The Most Basic Component"; (3) "The Next Step";…

This volume contains the second part of the proceedings of the twenty-sixth annual meeting of the Pacific Northwest Council on Foreign Languages. The focus is on second language teaching, and relevant linguistic research is included. The proceedings are divided into six major sections. Following the major addresses, which concern audiolingual…

Selections include Strevens' discussion of teaching for different circumstances, Morley's discussion of new developments in teaching materials, Swain's overview of research in bilingual education, Shuy's, Oller's, Bernal's, and Rosier's respective discussions of test bias, and Rivers', Hines', Scovel's, and Taylor's explorations of the Silent Way,…

This book is designed for teachers of children whose first language is other than English, in particular, teachers who have had little or no formal training in the teaching of English as a second language (ESL). Although the emphasis is on the Spanish-speaking student, the same techniques and tools apply to speakers of other languages. The first…

The manual concentrates on features of English and Indochinese which are dissimilar and, therefore, potential problem areas. These areas were identified through: (1) a contrastive analysis of English and Indochinese (Lao, Cambodian, Vietnamese) phonology, morphology, and syntax; (2) an analysis of Indochinese students' errors; and (3) noting the…

Essays in applied linguistics include: "Meaningful Negotiation: A Study of the Pedagogical Value of Autotutor-An Interactive Video Learning Resource" (John Stephen Byrne); "Medium of Instruction in the L2 Classroom" (Wei Danhua); "The Story of Language Contact and Shift in Ireland: How Unique, How Universal?" (Markku,…

This volume contains the following papers: (1) "Linguistics, TESOL, and Bilingual Education: An Overview," by J.E. Alatis; (2) "TESOL: Meeting a Social Need," by M. Galvan; (3) "Bilingual Education, TESL, and Ethnicity in New York State," by E.B. Nyquist; (4) "Control, Initiative, and the Whole Learner," by…