Because interaction gives language learners an opportunity to modify their speech upon a signal of noncomprehension, it should also have a positive effect on native speakers' (NS) comprehension of nonnative speakers (NNS). This study shows that interaction does help NSs comprehend NNSs, contrasting the claims of an earlier study that found no…

Investigates the potential role of Internet resources as a means to gain a deeper sense of the culture of the Spanish-speaking world for college students. Data collected demonstrate that the Web is a suitable tool to increase language and cultural knowledge, as well as a means to increase motivation. Pedagogical implications are discussed.…

This longitudinal study examined the relationship between kindergarten word writing and Grade 1 literacy in a large sample of Israeli children. Kindergarten writing significantly predicted variance in all three measures of Grade 1 literacy, even after controlling for intelligence. Also examined the role of alphabetic skills and socioliteracy…

Describes a method content teachers in the middle and upper grades can use to teach their traditional content topics with a focus on the content information, the content's organizational plan, and strategies to help students "deep process" the content. Describes the three-stage implementation. Notes evidence that applying and practicing the…

Investigates the relative effects of two types of input modification--simplification and elaboration--on Korean high school students' English-as-a-foreign-language reading comprehension. Six English passages in one of three forms were presented to 180 students, who were divided into two proficiency levels. Comprehension was assessed using a…

Investigates the influence of goal orientations on strategy use patterns and reading comprehension of adult English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) readers. Thirty-eight Taiwanese EFL college freshmen were randomly selected and assigned into the mastery-oriented and the combined mastery- and performance-oriented groups. Results indicated that two…

Describes techniques used in a multi-age class at Coupeville Elementary School, Washington, to boost reading comprehension and inspire students' love of books: access to an abundance of books, challenges to students, skills reinforcement, combined phonics and whole-language instruction, running-record assessment, paired reading, independent…

Recounts the use of a computer-mediated proficiency test in an intensive international teaching assistant workshop. Both traditional raw score analyses and item response theory analyses done on the test data are described in detail. Indicated that the test was not suitable for making exemption and retention decisions with this particular group of…

A study tested keyword captioning, in comparison with full-text captioning and no captioning, in video programs for French second-language instruction, based on the hypothesis that keywords offer less to read. Results indicate keyword captions resulted in greater comprehension than no captions; full-text captions resulted in the greatest…

In order to examine the influence of interactive media on children's story memory, first-grade children experienced a computer-based story in one of four presentation modes, two of which were interactive. In the interaction groups, there was no relation between the amount of interaction with the story and subsequent memory. (Author)

Prepositions have different but related senses. In cognitive semantics, figurative senses are extended from spatial senses through conceptual metaphors. Pedagogically, it is useful to draw learners' attention to those aspects of a preposition's spatial sense that are especially relevant for its metaphorization. Ways in which cognitive semantic…

Explores the relationship between practice at reading, student reading performance, and organizational features using data from a computer-assisted student self-assessment of reading comprehension program (The Accelerated Reader). Finds student reading ability strongly positively related to amount of in-school reading practice; amount of reading…

Investigated the developing metalinguistic capabilities of Hispanic primary school children who are becoming bilingual but whose English achievement is below average. Examines whether native and second-language vocabulary and degree of bilingualism contribute to performance on a bilingual task, and whether native- and second-language vocabulary…

Reports on a study of the development of literacy, bilingualism, and metalinguistic awareness. Subjects were speakers of Spanish and Nahuatl from Central Mexico. Assessments of metalinguistic awareness related to different aspects of the children's consciousness of the languages they spoke or understood were compared to a series of assessments of…

Observed Israeli students taking notes in a first language while listening to lectures in English-as-a-foreign-language given by the law faculty. Questions addressed include these: (1) Why did the students translate the lecture into Hebrew while taking their notes?; (2) What did they gain and lose by doing this?; (3) How good was their…