Examines the disparity between the theoretical ideal of a multilingual society espoused by British industry in general and the reality of business practice as described in interviews by the managers of small and medium-sized companies in Scotland. None of the interviewees felt that their company had "unmet" needs in foreign language…

Discusses the relations in learning between primary (L1) and second languages, including the theme of language learning and face-to-face verbal interaction; the conjunction of research in language learning and in bilingualism; and work on the role of metalinguistc activities in this area. Notes that the ethnographic data collected show that resort…

Examines the origin and current meaning of the labels, ESL (English as a Second Language) and EFL (English as a foreign language). Places these acronyms in historical context, evaluates their current credibility, distinguishes three contexts commonly referred to as ESL environments and proposes a new nomenclature that better captures the role of…

Explains how the education system in Hong Kong has helped to shape Hong Kong's past diglossia and how the country is preparing to face the changes inherent in the new political context in which Putonghua will be another element. Reports on the status and use of Cantonese and Putonghua (the national language of the People's Republic of China). (33…

English acts as a linguistic and symbolic resource for the countries using it. In the Swiss advertisements analyzed, English evokes connotations of professionalism and international appeal. The appropriation of English as a symbol of Swiss national identity allows the Swiss to lay claim to a social identity not available to them through their own…

Presents results of a background survey and proficiency test of student teachers at Sultan Qaboos University in the Sultanate of Oman. TEFL student teachers lacked confidence in their speaking ability but had a positive attitude toward the use and study of English in their country. (61 references) (LT)

France's new Under-Secretary for Linguistic and Educational Cooperation within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlines his plans for the role the agency is to play. Issues discussed include French language instruction, cooperation with developed and developing nations, the role of French, cooperation at all educational levels, and agency…

Discusses the influences of mass media and other communication technologies on small linguistic communities using examples from the Catalan and Occitan/Aranes communities of Spain. Highlights include hardware, linguistic software, national character sets and sorting, spelling checkers, automatic translation, multilingual software, networking, and…

A study examined the conversations of eight groups of high school students in a level three Spanish class during a jigsaw speaking task, and compared their language use patterns with those of intermediate-level learners of English as a Second Language. Results suggest both similarities and differences. Choice of language is also considered. (17…

A discussion of multilingualism in the European context looks at various topics, including the origins of multilingualism, value judgments about foreign languages and multilingualism, current trends, language contact and mixture, human potential for multilingualism, simultaneous and consecutive language acquisition, individual needs for different…

A survey of secondary students, French language teachers, managers, and university students in Buenos Aires (Argentina) gives insight into the role of French there and reasons for studying it. Students in general appreciated the language for its aesthetic aspects, managers and teachers for its contribution to culture in general. (MSE)

College and university development officers are encouraged to adjust their expectations of volunteers to the current reality of graduates' schedules and commitments. Five barriers to volunteering (economic, time and distance, language and cultural, environmental, and competitive) are identified, and techniques for overcoming them are offered. (MSE)

A discussion of the state of higher education in South Africa looks at the economic context, the structure of the higher education system, including the role of apartheid and languages (English and Afrikaans), the government's role in governance and funding, and the actual and potential roles of professional associations in education. (MSE)

Supporters of bilingual education focus on the need to emphasize the advantages of bilingualism to all students, improve training of bilingual education teachers, and build on existing skills of limited-English-proficient students. The U.S. system of locally controlled schools both helps and hinders this effort. (MSE)

The role of language and culture in the education of Europeans for a culturally diverse, global society is discussed. It is argued that a great deal must be done before education will prepare Europeans to deal with contradicting political, economic, social, linguistic, and cultural forces, particularly in the context of the European Union, in…