Foreign language acquisition research (concerned with the theoretical and practical issues related to socialization into and literacy in another language and culture) can help integrate language, literature, and culture in foreign language departments because it draws on insights gained from such diverse fields as anthropology, sociology,…

Problems which college level foreign language instruction must attack are cultural inertia fostered by the rise of English as the world lingua franca; pressure to include more languages and subjects in higher education; subordination of the field to the interest of social sciences; and inroads of "general literature" into the place of primary…

Present results of a longitudinal study of vocabulary development as it takes place in a classroom setting involving elementary-level Swedish-speaking learners of English. The study used spew tests requiring pupils to write down as many words as they could in one minute that began with a given letter. (Author/LMO)

Examines the development of cohesive discourse among second language learners in light of native speaker discourse norms. Previous studies of cohesion in second language acquisition have failed to consider restrictions on the distribution of cohesive devices in English. Two of these restrictions are discussed. (Author/DJD)

Proposes a framework for foreign language testing that consists of several different types of speech interactions. The interactions are assessed with rating scales whose criteria vary according to the intended use of the test results. The framework is evaluated in terms of reliability and validity. A sample oral test is given. (Author/DJD)

Investigates whether Universal Grammar (UG) is accessible to adult language learners. Advanced Korean adult acquirers of English were given a test of grammaticality judgements on English "wh-" sentences, where the relevant constraints are thought to derive from principles of UG. Clear UG effects were found. Sample instruction sheet given…

Compares the reading processing strategies of native and proficient nonnative speakers of Chinese. At the word level natives show a phonological strategy, while nonnatives mix phonological and visual processing. At the sentence level natives mix visual and semantic strategies, and nonnatives prefer visual processing. (LMO)

A Confidence-rating scale accompanying answers on a listening test helps distinguish between learners who select answers based on effective self-monitoring and those whose answers are based on poor self-monitoring. The latter are more likely to do so subsequently as well. Test items and a rating scale are illustrated. (Author/LMO)

Argues against the grammatical accuracy hypothesis. Test results of second-language students taught by Krashen's Natural Approach are compared to results from those taught by the grammar-translation method. No advantage is found in using the traditional method, and the expectation that students can become fluent speakers of a second language in…

Assesses the attitudes of Arab parents living in the United States toward their children's bilingual education programs and the role in their children's education. Findings revealed that parents highly valued their child's placement in a bilingual class environment because of its more positive, accepting atmosphere and attention to Arab culture.…

A study of 52 Spanish-speaking English as a second language college students revealed that the din phenomenon (a form of spontaneous mental rehearsal in which words, sound, and phrases are replayed) was very common among subjects and at all stages of language acquisition. (Author/CB)

Combines Marxist notions of ideology with the theory of reader response to reveal the subjectivity of reading, in general. Foreign language reading, in particular, not only involves the understanding of text but the cultural and literary aspects of the target language as well. (CB)

Describes the University of Arizona's plan of action for defining and testing second language proficiency at the fourth semester level (a college requirement). Tasks include (1) reviewing proficiency literature; (2) redefining the second language requirement by using the ACTFL proficiency guidelines; (3) developing testing techniques; and (4)…

Reviews previous research and presents and analyzes data regarding some possible connections between small group oral interaction and language learning. Data show that communicative interaction is far more sensitive and significant to learners' needs and abilities than are other forms of language work. (CB)

Considers the nature and types of questions that are asked on English as a second language grammar in various undergraduate examinations of an Indian university and shows that many questions are vague, ambiguous, ineffective, and occasionally couched in ungrammatical language, thus defeating the objective of the tests. (Author/CB)