The effectiveness of teaching academic courses such as mathematics and science in a foreign language has been investigated by several international studies in the literature. Even though the studies conducted have brought up contradictory results, most of them reveal that learning academic courses through a foreign language medium may pose…

Spanish, English, and American Indian languages in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico and bilingualism and language contact in the region are addressed in a collection of articles. Approaches to research in the languages of this region are discussed in articles by Valdes, Lope Blanch, and Brandt. Cultural and sociolinguistic…

The language of Spanish correspondence possesses particular characteristics that lie somewhere between the everyday conversational style and the more formal literary style. This minicourse contains three lessons intended to enable the student to learn the letter-writing style and to write letters in Spanish. It is also intended to encourage and…

Two linguistic and religious aspects of the Alsatian school are discussed. These two aspects of the problem converge in the area commonly called Alsace-Lorraine. The discussion of the school question is developed in two parts: (1) the historical evolution prior to the German occupation in 1940, and (2) developments since 1940. The interlocking of…

This guide is concerned with possible solutions to the dilemma faced by American Indians, who want to maintain their ancestral language and customs on the one hand but integrate themselves into the mainstream of the economy on the other. The tenacity of Indian languages and the importance they have for their speakers are demonstrated by the…

The report presents results of a study of elementary and secondary school two-way bilingual immersion programs that focused on the program and contextual factors affecting student learning, student and teacher language use in the classroom, and teaching strategies used to promote target language use and increase language proficiency. The study…

A doctoral dissertation describes the needs, attitudes, and characteristics of 82 bilingual native speakers of Spanish in Arizona, most community college students, concerning their Spanish language education. Data were gathered using a survey, 14 interviews, observation in classroom and home environments, and four case studies. Results indicate…

Canada Native students must be engaged in their education, understanding their vital role in their peoples' futures. Every native-language speaker must be responsible for passing on the language to younger generations, because it is through language that culture remains intact. This effort must become part of preservice teacher education. (SM)

Describes alternative educational innovations at all educational levels, developed by the Maori of New Zealand in response to the dual crises of educational underachievement and the loss of language, knowledge, and culture. Major intervention elements are validating cultural identity, incorporating culturally preferred pedagogy, mediating…

Describes the Niitsi-tapi Teacher Education Project, a joint effort established by Red Crow Community College in conjunction with the education faculty at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta, Canada. This teacher education project relies heavily on the use of the Blackfoot language and other cultural components, and addresses the people's…

The goal of the study was to compare the literacy challenges faced by children who speak nonstandard dialects of English and for whom Standard English is a "second dialect" with challenges faced by children for whom Standard English is a "second language." The study focused on the extent to which discourse patterns in the…

This report presents results from a national survey, conducted in 2005, that examined the educational experiences of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) students in grades 4 and 8, with particular emphasis on the integration of native language and culture into school and classroom activities. Students, teachers, and school principals all…

This paper examines current usage, educational initiatives, and future prospects for survival of three Canadian Aboriginal languages--Odawa (frequently called Ojibwe), Mohawk, and Inuktitut. The presentation centers around the direct insider stories of Mohawk and Odawa coauthors, with comparative commentary by an outsider with long-term experience…

Central Mexico is home to over 20 indigenous languages whose speakers still occupy their original ancestral communities. In this region, acute language conflict between Native languages and Spanish, the official state language, greatly affects elementary school students such as those in San Isidro Buensuceso Tlaxcala and Mision de Chichimecas in…

This proceedings is presented in three parts. Part 1 contains summaries of the keynote speech and one paper: "Sa-Jiao: An Important Concept in Understanding Chinese Students' Social Behavior" (Jing-Jyi Wu); and "Our Choices Create Our Future: A Chinese-American Perspective" (Rose Tseng). Part 2 contains summaries of three panel…