A study of acquisition of new word formation devices in Hebrew as an indication of near-native competence is based on data collected from written questionnaires. The three tasks to be completed included: (1) production, requiring suggestions for new nouns; (2) evaluation, choosing the most appropriate innovation; and (3) interpretation,…

Analysis of data from the first six months of acquisition of English as a second language by a Japanese five-year-old illustrated the role of modular "chunking" and coupling in the second language acquisition process, apparent in the child's pre-copula and copula referential utterances. (Author/CB)

First-year University of Hong Kong students were subjects in a study using sex, verbal intelligence, personality, and attitudinal variables as predictors of English language skills. Results showed that levels of proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking were independent of one another. (LMO)

Viewing language learning as another skill acquisition process allows correction to be seen differently. An "error" occurs when knowledge is faulty, a "mistake" when only the performance is faulty. Mistakes can be corrected when (1) the student desires correction; (2) knows what is correct; (3) knows a mistake has occurred; and…

Describes a method of using newspaper articles in the English-language classroom called Read-Ask-and-Tell. The place of authentic materials in the classroom, including some of the pitfalls, are discussed. The Reading, Asking, and Telling components are outlined, and activities for consolidation and reinforcement of skills are suggested. Appendices…

Summarizes presentations given at the second annual symposium "Man and the Media" at the Institute for Romance Languages at the University of Saarbrucken, West Germany in September 1986. Includes comparisons between French and German news coverage on TV, teaching French using TV, and cross-cultural problems in using instructional videos.…

Describes the development in progress of a syntactic parser of German called "Syncheck," which uses the programing language "Prolog." The grammar is written in a formalism called "Definate Clause Grammar." The purpose of "Syncheck" is to provide advice on grammatical correctness to intermediate and advanced…

Analysis of foreign language films, featuring consideration of film sequence, image and film analysis, and literary adaptation, is an effective teaching activity with foreign language students. An example illustrates film analysis activities in a first-year French class. (CB)

Describes the study of learning strategies employed by successful (defined in terms of oral communicative abilities) Chinese learners of English. These strategies are compared to those of less successful learners and those of other population types from other studies. The test of oral communicative abilities is described. A strategies…

Seventy-four grade 8 pupils in Hong Kong were randomly assigned to an experimental class, with English as the language of instruction, and to a control class, with Chinese as the language of instruction. Pupils in the immersion program were not hindered in academic achievement but did not improve second-language proficiency. (JHZ)

Describes the "International Potpourri" two-week residential summer enrichment program for gifted and talented ninth and tenth grade students. The program combined the best elements of foreign language camps and international festivals through a variety of activities including beginning conversation, songs, dances, crafts and food…

Data from the fifteenth American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages survey on foreign language enrollment are presented in charts which indicate public high school enrollments (in Spanish, French, German, Russian, Italian, and Latin) from 1980-1985, foreign language enrollment by state, level of instruction, and enrollments in less…

Describes students' and teachers' reactions to working in peer feedback groups in a foreign language composition course, including such aspects as peer feedback compatibility, process approach to writing, and ways in which feedback teams can function more effectively. (Author/CB)

A sentence interpretation experiment conducted with university-age native English speakers, Japanese English as a second language (ESL) speakers, and native Japanese speakers (N=12 per group) suggested caution in attempting to typify languages on the basis of processing strategies drawn from probabilistic tendencies evident in grouped data.…

Evaluation of mastery at the various stages of language acquisition is more appropriately carried out through the use of creative testing on hybrid achievement tests, which retain certain features of achievement tests and incorporate proficiency-based tasks that require authentic communicative language use. (Author/CB)