A study investigated the ability of native-Chinese-speaking graduate students (N=18) at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh to infer word meanings from context in two passages written in English. One passage came from the "China Daily" and the other from an editorial in a student newspaper. Glosses were provided…

Most advanced second language (L2) learners find continued vocabulary growth to be one of the most difficult areas in second language learning, and vocabulary acquisition has not received little attention by researchers. As a result, no unified theory of L2 vocabulary acquisition exists, although the literature contains ample advice on how to…

A study investigated how Hispanic bilingual students' knowledge of Spanish vocabulary and awareness of Spanish-English cognates influence comprehension of English expository text. The subjects, 74 upper elementary school students literate in both Spanish and English, were tested for vocabulary knowledge in both languages. After reading four…

This document discusses the advantages of integrating social studies--geography in particular--and reading skills. Time is saved because literature based reading is a high interest means of introducing social studies concepts and vocabulary to children. Skills can be taught using the vocabulary from the social studies unit. This paper presents…

This paper documents a presentation given on the use of English-language television cooking shows in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) classrooms in Taiwan. Such shows can be ideal for classroom use, since they have a predictable structure consisting of short segments, are of interest to most students,…

A study examined the effectiveness of a theory-based classroom instructional method for teaching the vocabulary acquisition process with college developmental reading-writing students. Subjects, 28 students in two sections of developmental freshmen composition, followed a step-by-step procedure in each of five unit plans. The objective of the…

Curriculum objectives are detailed for the Milwaukee German Language Arts Program in the German Immersion Program. The report is based on the English Language Arts Program in the Milwaukee Public Schools. The philosophy of the program is to use the second language as both the tool and object of instruction. The curriculum indicates what is…

Curriculum objectives are detailed for the Milwaukee French Language Arts Program in the French Immersion Program. The report is based on the English Language Arts Program in the Milwaukee Public Schools. The philosophy of the program is to use the second language as both the tool and object of instruction. The curriculum indicates what is…

An alternating treatments design was used to evaluate and compare the instructional effectiveness of six treatment packages in teaching receptive picture vocabulary to 12 mildly handicapped children (ages 3-6 years). Independent variables in the treatment packages included: least-to-most prompting, correction, group instruction, and individual…

This digest presents ideas for teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) in foreign countries where textbooks or other traditional instructional materials are limited or unavailable. The activities discussed emphasize student participation, require creativity, and encourage students to enjoy learning English. Four particular activities used by…

The effectiveness of three teaching techniques used by native speakers with students of English as a second language was studied. The three techniques were presenting a word in isolation, in combination with a picture, and in a sentence. The study included a 24-hour interval between teaching and testing to determine which method was more effective…

This teacher's guide for a second grade Inuktitut language arts program has 30 units based on concepts in social studies, science, math, and health; and emphasizes development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. The vocabulary and unit concepts are based on themes familiar to the children, including ships, plants, rocks, animal…

Designed to improve reading comprehension and other complex verbal functions, fertile instruction in word skill focuses on improving accuracy of word knowledge, increasing fluency of access to meanings in memory, and enriching semantic network connections among related concepts. It is particularly appropriate for teaching the high frequency words…

A Navajo/English bilingual program uses the student's knowledge of his first language, offers the opportunity to speak in two languages, and helps the student move from the home experience to the school experience. It gives instruction in content materials to all students either in English or in Navajo and direct language instruction in both…

A listing of 97 items of courseware includes programs in seven categories, pertaining to: (1) vocabulary; (2) grammar; (3) verb conjugation; (4) syntax and/or morphosyntax; (5) reading and/or writing; (6) oral language; and (7) other areas of French second language instruction. Each citation includes the title, program type (e.g. drill, game),…