Research on second language learning suggests that age or age-related factors are a major variable in the acquisition of a second language for school. In the early stages of acquisition, older students are faster and more efficient learners, with the advantage of more advanced cognitive development in the first language. This early advantage…

Eighteen papers from the University of South Africa's Conference on Distance Education are presented. They include: "Effective Second Language Reading in a Cross-Cultural Society" (Irma Zaslansky); "A BA Degree in Social Sciences at the Israel Open University" (Ruth Beyth-Marom); "Establishing a Theological Education by…

An ongoing research project into the dissolution or attrition of native language structure under the influence of bilingualism analyzed certain paradigmatic changes in the first language of a Hungarian-Hebrew bilingual speaker. Data were collected over a 2-year period from an Israeli woman who was born in Hungary and immigrated to Israel at 6…

This book of exercises is part of the package of materials developed for use in an English for Special Purposes project, which offers classes in reading, grammar, and emergency care attendant training for limited English proficient students. The exercises are designed to meet the need for early presentation of medical and allied health related…

This teacher's manual is designed to accompany the exercise book on structure and vocabulary. It is part of a package of materials developed for use in an English for Special Purposes project, which offers classes in reading, grammar, and emergency care attendant training for limited English proficient students. Brief notes and suggestions are…

This book contains two versions of the Language Aptitude Test. It is part of a package of materials developed for use in an English for Special Purposes project, which offers classes in reading, grammar, and emergency care attendant training for limited English proficient students. Introductory material describes the parts of two versions and…

This monograph presents language factors related to bilingualism, to assist educators to distinguish normal phenomena due to bilingualism from symptoms of a handicapping condition. The first section, called "The Nature of Bilingualism," discusses the diversity of bilingual students and their dynamic use of two languages, focusing on simultaneous…

This training manual is designed to improve understanding of Chinese American children, their families, and the issues surrounding the assessment process, to assist educators in creating a more appropriate assessment and learning environment for the limited English speaking Chinese American child. Three training modules are included; each module…

A study undertaken to assess the educational services offered to children in three diverse bilingual communities gathered data through interviews with a variety of school and community people, classroom observations, and review of school documents. The results of the data gathering are summarized for each of the three communities: (1) an urban,…

It was found that the seemingly greatly increased oral fluency of Middlebury College seniors who had studied in college-sponsored junior year abroad programs did not carry over to written skills or to comprehensive grammatical knowledge. In the oral proficiency interview for Spanish, many returning students had no control of the subjunctive, a key…

The manual supplements "English as a Second Language Program: A Support System for the Basal Readers," an oral language guide that is a compilation of objectives and activities that use a sequential and systematic approach to develop language skills and concepts. Designed to help teachers and other instructional personnel in the implementation of…

A study investigated the communication patterns among 11 foreign expatriate managers and 75 Chinese managers in Taiwan with four different levels of second language competence. In particular, the study examined (1) how foreign expatriate managers perceive the importance of second language competence; (2) how Chinese local managers perceive the…

Seventy-one subjects (22 English monolinguals, 23 Spanish monolinguals, and one bilingual group comprised of 19 Spanish-dominant and 7 English-dominant bilinguals) were assessed by means of the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery and the Woodcock-Johnson Language Proficiency Battery at the beginning of kindergarten and first grade. These…

Recognizing that different groups of students have different reasons for learning a second language, different language needs, and different intellectual capacities and abilities, this guide presents recommended language skills for an eclectic approach to English as a second language instruction. The language and reading scope and sequence for…

Alberta's curriculum guide for French immersion programs outlines the programs' rationale and objectives and the content of the oral language, reading, and writing components for six years. An introductory section discusses the aim of developing language competence and recent theory on competence. The role of language as an instrument of…