This paper briefly considers past and recent research in the field of bilingualism and then proceeds to describe the project that attempted to turn the educational failure of a group of children in a situation of subtractive bilingualism into success. (Contains 18 references.) (JL)

In a study attention in second-language learning, four groups of beginning learners of Spanish (n=83 total) completed one of four crossword puzzles designed to isolate the effects of alertness, orientation, and detection. Results lend strong empirical support to one theory of attention, while indicating short-term effects of detection. (Author/MSE)

Examines a cultural phenomenon of "freier," or "sucker," in Israeli society, reflecting almost diametrically opposed values of American immigrants and native Israelis. In 47 interviews with American immigrants concerning communication interactions, insight was gained into the status and posture of the immigrants in the host…

Proposes a model for creating citations in academic writing that relates variation in citation language forms to writers' ability to control how they position themselves and their texts within a multimember colloquy that comprises the past, present, and future academic community. The model is potentially valuable pedagogically and for analyzing…

Uses activist ethnographic field work to explore institutional language skills used by inner-city residents as they negotiated social services institutions. Shows residents' critical awareness and political acumen as they complied with and resisted the structuring ideology of institutional agents. Raises questions about the methods of key critical…

Defines cognitive approaches to second-language acquisition research first in terms of goals and theoretical orientations, next, in terms of its methods (observations, experimentation, simulation), and last, in terms of its applications. (Author/VWL)

Presents arguments for an emphasis on listening comprehension in language learning and teaching. An explanation of how listeners use strategies to enhance the learning process is presented with a review of the existing research base on how second-language listening is taught. Pedagogical recommendations are presented as well as examples of…

Focuses on English dictionaries and their development in second-language-learning contexts, taking the perspective that standards are usually codified in reference grammars, pronouncing dictionaries, and word dictionaries. Presents contemporary discussions of "English" and "Englishes" in Asia, a phenomenon that has come about…

This survey considers recent publications relating to autonomy in language learning. Publications are grouped in three categories: collections of articles about autonomy in language learning and research studies in the field; books intended as practical guides; collections of materials or tasks intended to inspire practitioners of autonomy in…

Raises a series of problems that attach to the standard analysis of input to learning as the stimulus array minus unattended-to information, where attention is construed as a selection function. Demonstrates the inadequacy of this distinction as the foundation for a theory of input in second-language acquisition. (Author/VWL)

Discusses studies done on second-language classroom interaction by classroom researchers and second-language (L2) acquisition researchers. Argues that it is critical to explore how the learner processes L2 information, because classroom interaction is a dynamic process characterized by the interplay between external verbal exchanges and internal…

Analyzes parents' use of indirect requests and other types of figurative language (metaphor and idiom) addressed to their children. Finds that indirect requests occurred most frequently but that parents also used other nonliteral forms as well. Shows that parents were using the range of nonliteral forms primarily to achieve the single goal of…

Suggests multimedia texts may be the common texts of the near future; highlights themes and issues arising from the integration of computer technology into literacy and language learning. Draws on four case studies to illustrate how creating multimedia texts gives students control over the creative process and the mechanics of text production. (NH)

Focuses on generic discourse practices by tracing the persuasive heterogeneity and the distributed nature of discourse genres in use. Three examples from research are explored: a father and his two daughters playing a family-created verbal game; a family's engagement with their 2-year-old's creative retellings of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit"; and a…

Examines controversial interactions between children, a group generally overlooked in second-language acquisition research. Specifically, the research focuses on (1) whether children can negotiate for meaning, (2) what strategies they use, and (3) whether there are differences between the ways adults and primary school children negotiate for…