This paper examines the effect of formality in three different situations on the oral production of French interlanguage. An analysis of 39 Dutch-speaking students revealed that, contrary to predictions, the more formal situation does not lead to higher accuracy rates. (23 references) (Author)

Describes perspectives of several families whose children dropped out of school. Audiotaped interviews with 3 or more members of 12 families reveal hostile views toward schooling and a 2-generation history of poor academic performance. School was a series of academic failures, conflicts, disciplinary hearings, suspensions, and expulsions. Dropping…

This paper cites observational and interview evidence indicating that language immersion students in the United States and Canada increasingly avoid using their second language in peer interactions as they move into higher primary grade levels. Implications for immersion programs and teachers are discussed. (32 references) (MDM)

The process of screening and selecting new employees is viewed as one having discrete steps, each with implications concerning Equal Employment Opportunity and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Several screening and selection methods are examined, with questionnaire forms used by Indiana University, South Bend provided for illustration. Typical…

Communication-based teaching techniques are described that lead German language students from input to output in a stimulating and motivating learning environment. Input activities are most useful for presenting speech acts, vocabulary, and grammar; output activities, for fine-tuning those areas as well as for expanding students' productive…

Describes a study of student online searches at Cornell University that was conducted to explore the value of staff assistance to trained end users searching the BRS Menus system. Analysis of audio tapes of the search process, questionnaires, and interviews is presented; student attitudes are discussed; and future possibilities are considered.…

Interviews at the University of California, Berkeley, revealed various problems experienced by students from developing countries in using U.S. academic libraries, including insufficient English proficiency, open stacks, Library of Congress Classification, indexes, and U.S. concepts of plagiarism. Ways in which library staff can assist foreign…

Summarizes a study that identified and described federal information inventory/locator systems and resulted in the Federal Locator Database--an electronic database describing 250 federal databases. Recommends that the U.S. Office of Management and Budget develop policy frameworks for the design of a governmentwide locator system accessible over…

Observations of second- and third-grade teachers who participated in a staff development program illustrate teachers' difficulties with getting low achievers to focus on and understand the process of being strategic and with using literacy tasks to teach strategy. (BB)

Students' experiences of revision were used to clarify the concept of understanding for 24 undergraduates through interviews describing the nature of their understanding and how it was reached. Contrasting forms of understanding were discovered. Implications for teaching and learning in higher education are discussed. (SLD)

In-depth, structured interviews were conducted over a two-year period with four young adults (previously identified as learning disabled) who had dropped out of high school. Their stories cast doubt on the idea that dropouts are necessarily "failures" but suggest serious shortcomings in the secondary education programing and the transition…

Interpersonal Process Recall (IPR) is a technique in which audiotapes are used to evoke students' memories concerning their own thinking. Reports a study using IPR to probe elementary students' (n=17) thinking during a problem-solving situation. Concluded that IPR has potential in classroom research. (MDH)

Describes a method of teaching physics for mastery. The method includes writing assignments on journal sheets, discussions of major concepts by student teams, and individual mastery conferences using questions formulated around the results of the group discussions. Discusses the ramifications of using this method. (MDH)

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…

A study exploring friendship relations of homeless, male drug users (aged between 21 and 50 years) through 27 in-depth interviews in Atlanta (Georgia) found that subjects were engaged in friendship networks that offered social support and that there was a relationship between friendships and patterns of crack cocaine use. (JB)