Papers for the fourth Foundation for Endangered Languages (FEL) Conference include the following: "Endangered languages and Literacy" (Nicholas Ostler, Blair Rudes); "Keynote Address: On Native Language Literacy: a Personal Perspective" (Ofelia Zepeda); "A Community's Solution to Some Literacy Problems: The Mayangna of…

This report examines responsiveness of the federally-supported Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration (CSRD) to English language learners (ELLs), highlighting the role of state education agencies (SEAs). By analyzing references to relevant terms (e.g., limited English proficiency, English as a Second Language, Spanish-speaking students,…

This book examines how in a multicultural, multilingual society, schools must involve parents and community members in literacy teaching and learning. By building on existing literacy, schools can become catalysts in empowering children, families, and teachers. Collaborative literacy teaching and learning can be a positive force in redefining…

This book aims to empower students and teachers to take a fresh look at the learning process. It guides students to become aware of their learning styles and to develop strategies to make their language learning successful. The book includes the following features: questionnaires in every chapter to help learners assess their learning styles;…

During the summer months, most of the students with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) are at great risk of falling further behind in reading and mathematics due to lack of exposure to the spoken and written English language in their homes. The purpose of this study was to examine the short-term effects of a summer program on the literacy and…

China's cultural system is based not on the strength of the individual, but on the pattern of relationships maintained by all people. In communication, the Chinese put emphasis on the receiver of messages and on listening rather than on the sender. This cultural trait, derived from Confucianism, has a significant impact on the strategies native…

A number of issues in classroom second language instruction, particularly as they relate to grammar instruction, are considered in the context of recent research and theory. Discussion begins with a review of the nature and role of second language grammar instruction. Following this, these issues are explored: whether the native or target language…

A review of the literature investigated how computers have been used in relation to the teaching of reading over the last 20 years, how effective those endeavors and research studies (mainly conducted at the college level) have been, and what computer instructional programs in the area of reading need to address. Various efforts have been made to…

Although to many educators Asian Pacific American students seem to look and be alike and are perceived as model minority students, they actually represent many diverse cultural groups and complex communities, both recently arrived and of long standing in the United States. Difficulties that may arise between the new immigrant and U.S.-born…

This paper examines the effects of adult students with multiple educational attainment levels on classroom practice and student persistence in an English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) basic writing course at a U.S. community college. The part-time status of the instructor exacerbated the challenges of teaching students whose educational attainment…

This book includes: a theoretical summary of the various facets of motivation, an examination of how the theoretical insights can help classroom practitioners in their everyday teaching practice and practical recommendations on how motivation can be researched and assessed. The following chapters are included: "Main Challenges of Motivation…

This paper discusses the use of storytelling as a pedagogic tool in Malaysian kindergartens. By listening to stories, the children learn to tell stories that involve communicating meaning. This is an effective learning technique, because stories and storytelling feed the children's imaginations, hone their listening skills, extend their…

This book addresses what kind of analysis of spoken language is appropriate to the assessment and fostering of fluency at the various stages of a student's development. It is easy to define fluency in general terms, but it is difficult to discern what linguistic and paralinguistic options are involved. This book begins by exploring perceptions of…

The spring issue focuses on the evolution in the education of language minority students. Rosalie Pedalino Porter's article, "On the State of Bilingual Education 1990-1995: 'Forked Tongue' Continued," highlights the advances made by local school districts where students are being introduced to academic content learning in English at a…

English Language Learning (ELL) students in the United States face special challenges for achieving academic success. In addition to the cross-cultural differences that may limit their understanding of the cultural norms and socialization into the larger U.S. discourse community, these students can be hindered by their lower-level English language…