Examines problems in the use of the term "community," including: (1) vague descriptions of community, without rules or boundaries; (2) its foreignness to students, raising questions about why students should learn it; and (3) its tendency to polarize writing theorists into community and individual camps. (JAD)

Presents a survey of English usage for various communication purposes in different types of Brazilian business organizations. The objectives of the survey are to identify the major uses of business English/Portuguese in international/national settings, to identify the varieties widely used in transactions, and to study the types of documents used…

Brings together critical theory and sociohistorical and sociocultural theories to explore why current reform efforts have not significantly changed the nature of teaching and learning contexts, teacher-student relationships, and the knowledge forms and uses constructed in school settings. Current contexts of school learning restrict access to…

This paper describes Welsh-English bilingualism in compulsory (5-16) and noncompulsory education in Wales, in bilingual (Welsh medium) and ordinary (Welsh as a subject only) schools, and in society and the media. The historical and sociological context is presented, as well as government policies, past and present. (Contains one reference.) (JL)

Describes how teachers' casual talk is, in fact, instruction and can have as much effect as direct instruction. Examines the impact on students of the teacher's language behaviors and how changes in those behaviors can change student classroom responses. (ET)

A discussion of language policy formation and planning in Namibia focuses on the policy document of the liberation movement calling for constitutional rights for its local languages. It covers the language policy, evolution of the policy, the role of English and the local languages, and nation building through diversity. (Contains 58 references.)…

Examines the assumptions and values of Chinese learners of English, focusing on the cultural, historical, philosophical, linguistic, social, and educational attitudes held by such learners that influence the way they learn English. The appropriateness and effectiveness of specific teaching methods with Chinese students is discussed. (21…

Compared the evaluative criteria that American English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instructors and Japanese English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) instructors applied in rating compositions written by adult Japanese EFL students. Results found that Japanese EFL teachers focused on accuracy while American ESL teachers focused on intersentential…

Examined the written responses of 13 teachers, who were making the transition toward using a process approach to writing instruction in their classes, to drafts composed by fourth graders. Findings provided information about how the teachers used language and what in the student drafts they focused on in their responses. (BB)

The contrast between private contentment with family life and public pessimism about the state of the U.S. family mirrors the frightening view of human relations presented by popular culture, particularly popular music. Many African-American leaders deplore any association between African-American culture and current, often obscene, pop music…

Presents a bibliography of approximately 130 books, journal articles, dissertations, and UNESCO reports (in English and French) about language usage and policies in education in subsaharan Africa. Most items were published in the 1980s. Examines the complexities and politics of language in South Africa, Nigeria, and Tanzania. (SV)

A discussion of economic and social arguments that advance adult literacy is followed by a review of definitions of literacy, issues of literacy instruction, issues of language, and issues of assessment and evaluation. (91 references) (LB)

To determine whether men dominate language in a mixed-gender adult classroom, 4 lessons were observed and recorded at a training course for 10 supervisors in London. Men helped maintain women's silence by the competitive nature of their discourse. Men's linguistic domination is related to research on children's classrooms. (SLD)

Presents an overview of current language policy and planning in Macao, as well as the language situation, especially in relation to language in education. The situation of four principal types of language-medium schools is also reviewed, with a view to assessing how efficiently these schools are achieving their proclaimed goals, and what problems…

Reviews some of the problems relevant to the teaching of language use and discusses pragmatic consciousness raising (PCR) as one alternative in teacher education for dealing with pragmatics in the classroom. (Author/JL)