Used interviews and participant observation to obtain an insider's perspective on "helping out" networks of older people in the urban South. Describes the cultural rules directing exchanges of support, and the way older individuals interpret these rules. Reveals the significance of reciprocity for preserving self-esteem. (Author/JAC)

Examines research on cultural literacy (knowledge of what others know) and relates this research to writing skills and the teaching of writing. (RL)

Discusses Marxist theory and scholarship as they illuminate the relationships between basic writing courses, language, literacy, and values, both in the broad institutional context and in the narrower instructional context. (RL)

The cultural environment as a major factor influencing reading achievement in primary schools is discussed. It is proposed that money be spent by Nigeria to improve the social and cultural environment of young beginning readers in rural areas to equalize their learning situations. The questionnaire is appended. (MLW)

The Early Childhood Project is a longitudinal investigation of contexts in which children from different sociocultural groups learn to read. Data collected from 41 families showed some consistency between parental beliefs on fostering reading development (entertainment versus skills perspective) and nature of experiences made available to…

Examines the issue of appropriate methodology for teaching English as a foreign language for differing sociocultural contexts. The article, based on the experiences of a team of teachers from a wide variety of teaching backgrounds, also examines the extent of the need for awareness raising in relation to learner backgrounds and teachers' varying…

Investigates the effects of Spanish-English bilinguals' first-language syntactic knowledge on the guesses they make about the meanings of new words encountered in English contexts. Examines a particular type of transfer to understand the process of vocabulary acquisition in second-language readers. (48 references) (Author/CK)

Identifies salient conceptual and methodological issues involved in cross-cultural research. Surveys principals and teachers from California and the Marshall Islands regarding perceptions of principals' leadership capabilities in three areas: school governance, school climate and culture, and instructional organization. There was substantial…

Examines politeness strategies used in intellectual discourse, concentrating on reference forms in various languages and in particular on the phenomena of power and solidarity displayed through the use of pronouns. The article identifies the differences and potential source of interferences in the domain of reference forms. (27 references)…

Studied the sociocultural context in which Brazilian children acquire and use everyday mathematics in terms of currency use. Participants were 105 children, ages 4 to 11, and their parents. Found decreased use of currency with increasing age. Children also used currency to aid their problem solving and progressed from global estimates to the…

Identifies two types of response to the possibility of teaching English as a lingua franca, where there is a break of the traditional assumption that a language is associated with one or more specific cultures. Taken from the German context, the issues raised are significant to most teachers of English, and for those who educate them. (Author/VWL)

Describes the process of introducing interactive pedagogy in countries making the transition to democracy through education reform. Recounts authors' experiences as facilitators and learners during an international teacher education seminar. Focuses on the Step by Step higher education initiative, philosophy of education, orienting adult learners…

The treatment of children with Gender Identity Disorder is laden with important ethical and moral considerations. Gender-typed behavior is defined by culture; therefore, it is of paramount importance that therapists clarify their own biases and expectations of gender-based behavior before attempting treatment. Two case studies are presented. (LSR)

Argues that the "reflective practitioner" concept is only a partial framework for informing teacher development. Presents an in-service teacher education program in Albania that includes consideration of the social nature of learning and how the social and cultural context influence practice. Proposes six key issues for teacher…

Interviews Susan Miller, a teacher of composition studies and author of well-known articles about the field. Discusses what it means to be able to write, and the cultural forces that have shaped her as a writer and teacher of writing. Argues for a renewed focus on the act of writing and the production of texts. (PM)