Reports that vocabulary choice and linguistic virtuosity are closely tied to levels of writing skill, to cognitive development, and to self-concept. (RL)

Examines current language policy in Canada, particularly regarding Quebec, and discusses possible future developments. (AM)

Discusses the notion of "language needs" and suggests some learning activities designed to make second language learners aware of why they are studying the language while they are learning it. (AM)

Discusses the revolutionary reorientation taking place in English teaching, the responses to it found in the Bullock Report, and studies of the effects of language attitudes in teaching that have been undertaken and that still need to be undertaken. (GT)

Suggests ways to help students enjoy the illogic or inconsistencies of English by comparing conventional usage of several major world languages. (MKM)

An examination of 2,000 freshman themes, half written from 1950 to 1957 and half from 1973 to 1976, revealed that recent themes had many more deviations from standard usage, mechanics, and punctuation. (DD)

Looks at a course which sends teachers out into the communities of minority cultures. (Editor)

Examines age differences in social interaction. Subjects range in age from five to 20. Results indicate female groups develop towards adult interpersonal behavior styles earlier than male groups. (Author)

This article advocates use of everyday colloquial English in the ESL classroom to give students the most exposure to the language and the ability to use English as a tool for real communication. (CHK)

A questionnaire given to graduates and students of English revealed that: most use of their English was in the home country; aural comprehension was most important, followed by reading-comprehension, speaking and writing. Abroad, English was used more in non-English-speaking countries than in England or the USA. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Describes some sample discrimination exercises, involving discrimination between forms, between two uses of a form, between different information patterns, and between forms having different social relevance. (IFS/WGA)

Conversation is not easy to teach because of the absence of natural stimuli. Role-playing is seen as the best way to practice natural and interesting conversation. (IFS/WGA)

"Gambits" are conversational tools for introducing what we're about to say, such as "Excuse me for interrupting, but..." A three-part textbook series for students of English as a Second Language entitled "Gambits" contains exercises for advanced students which attempt to recreate "real-life" language…

Argues that the influence of dialect on the language of West Indian children may be much stronger than has been assumed. (Editor/RK)

Analyzes the ways in which language use reflects alignments and symmetry between people who are well-acquainted and communicate via electronic mail in Greek. Focus is on certain discourse features that form the conventionalized style of e-mail and frame contextualization cues, particularly certain patterns of code-switching and style shifts. (MSE)