The present semantic priming study explores the integration of newly learnt L2 German words into the L2 semantic network of German advanced learners. It provides additional evidence in support of earlier findings reporting semantic inhibition effects for emergent representations. An inhibitory mechanism is proposed that temporarily decreases the…

Four experiments were conducted to examine the role of orthotactic probability, i.e. the sequential letter probability, in the early stages of vocabulary acquisition by adult native speakers and advanced learners of German. The results show different effects for orthographic probability in incidental and intentional vocabulary acquisition: Whereas…

Studies on vocabulary acquisition in second language learning have revealed that a large amount of vocabulary is learned without an overt intention, in other words, incidentally. This article investigates the relevance of different lexical processing strategies for vocabulary acquisition when reading a text for comprehension among 24 advanced…

The extent to which learners benefit from instruction may be largely dependent on their individual abilities. However, there is relatively little work on the interaction between instructional effectiveness in second language learning and learner individual factors. In this study, we investigated the relationship between instruction, individual…

Using newspapers in FL teaching gives pupils experience reading original texts, and offers possibilities for vocabulary building. Here one must be aware of vocabulary differences between West and East Germany (FRG, GDR), particularly in ideological areas. The writer shows how vocabulary drills can be based on newspaper material. (Text is in…

Student-produced slide shows are found to be an effective way to develop listening and speaking skills for the advanced German student who may be bored with other oral exercises. (CHK)

This packet of instructional materials, intended for intermediate and advanced German students, contains a student's section and a teacher's guide focusing on calisthenics. The student section contains three illustrated transcriptions of radio programs on calisthenics for early morning listeners of "Der bayrische Rundfunk" in West Germany.…