Describes the results of a survey that examined the demographics of U.S. and Canadian academic and research librarians. The findings discussed include age, sex, educational background, foreign language proficiency, and professional skills. The need to recruit a wider range of talents and expertise to the profession is also discussed. (CLB)

Classical test theory and correlational techniques such as factor analysis have been unable to deal with many language tests' measurement problems. The Partial Credit Model, a latent trait model for the analysis of data scored in ordered categories, is used to construct and analyze an oral interview test of English as a Second Language. (28…

In Sheltered English classrooms, teachers help Limited English Proficient and Fluent English Proficient students through the difficult task of learning academic content while mastering a second language. (Author/TE)

Analysis of advanced English-as-a-second-language students' responses to proficiency tests and conversational cloze tests after a six-month residency in England revealed that, while written multiple-choice tests clearly showed linguistic improvement, the oral cloze tests separated out subjects more effectively. (Author/CB)

Discusses bilingual students' backgrounds; language use and proficiency at home and school; and students' and parents' reactions to the bilingual program established for the children of Mexican immigrants. (RAE)

A comparative study of two Hispanic communities in New York City focused on how social status and ethnic configuration affect linguistic and attitudinal behaviors. Differences in language proficiency, use, and attitude among Central Americans, Cubans, Dominicans, Puerto Ricans, and South Americans were found, and the Dominicans in the two…

Analysis of the keyed responses of items in three English-as-a-Second-Language reading comprehension tests focused on the form and source of information and on the frequency with which the information appeared in the text. Analysis of the results found that these facets were differentially related to the item score at different proficiency levels.…

In a supplement to Sasaki's 1993 study, six of the same participants took different types of second-language proficiency (SLP) tests, a foreign language aptitude battery, and an intelligence test. Results revealed differences in information processing between the high and low SLP groups. (Contains 35 references.) (Author/LB)

This article describes using dialog journals as part of a teaching-methods course in a summer program in Spain. Participants were teachers of Spanish with a range of experience and language proficiency. (JL)

Recognizing that English-as-a-Second-Language students may take seven to eight years to reach proficiency in academic language comparable to the English-speaking peers, this study examined illustrations in Hong Kong, Japanese, Mexican, and Canadian social studies textbooks. Findings that illustrations/graphics are common across languages suggest…

The efficacy of different methods of teaching English for Special Purposes (ESP) was studied, with focus on whether the communicative method is compatible with the goals of ESP teaching. The role on ESP learning of general English taught at high school was also examined. (Contains 15 references.) (LB)

Argues that teachers of children and adolescents with deafness, especially prelingual deafness, need to put greater emphasis on their students' English language skills. Students with deafness need to be fully literate in English so that they can succeed in their academic and vocational endeavors. (MDM)

A survey of 35 bilingual (Spanish-English) high school students found that all respondents acted as language brokers (informal translators) regardless of length of U.S. residence or availability of other brokers. Many students who reported relatively low school achievement had translated a variety of linguistically sophisticated documents.…

Two studies examined the stereotypes held by University of Arizona students of German toward Germany and Germans, finding that the majority of students held positive, though simplistic, views of German society and culture. German language proficiency was also found to have an effect on the stereotypical imagery conveyed by the students. (32…

Advocates a language awareness approach that aims at helping learners of a second language develop awareness of how the target language is typically used to achieve communication. Presents a pragmatic awareness lesson for upper intermediate students of English based on an extract from Charles Webb's "The Graduate." (18 references) (MDM)