Kindergarten students (n=102) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions (play, puppet, picture, repetition-control) to examine the effects of play as a mediator of listening comprehension. The play condition gained more than all other conditions and all conditions gained more than the control condition. (Author/PN)

The commonly slower reading rate in the second language of fluent bilinguals is found to have a counterpart in slower rates of listening comprehension. The implications of this finding for second-language reading research are discussed. (MSE)

Discusses four aspects of listening comprehension citing supportive research: (1) what is involved in listening comprehension, (2) whether it be taught, (3) how it is related to reading comprehension, and (4) what other factors affect listening comprehension. Provides recommendations for teaching. (HTH)

The effectiveness of D. Ausubel's Advance Organizer, an introduction presented before the material to be taught, was tested with 96 mildly retarded adolescents. Results of a three-way analysis of variance indicated a facilitative effect under the written presentation, especially for high-level questions and a negative effect under the oral…

Discusses some of the problems encountered in listening to and understanding a second language, and some means to overcome these problems. Addresses particularly three areas: (1) the difficulty in remembering messages contained in extended speech, (2) the impact of speed and slurring on comprehension, and (3) the student's lexical knowledge. (MES)

Three measures--logical reasoning ability, lexical comprehension, and home teaching activities--provided the best overall model in accounting for differences in children's performances across the print awareness measures. (HOD)

Discusses three experiments investigating the development of word-by-word comprehension in 5-, 7-, and 10-year olds. Subjects monitored for target words in a sentence. Variable included types of monitoring tasks and distribution and context of target words. Results are discussed in terms of the types of comprehension processes various tasks…

Proposes that second language instruction should give priority to the receptive skills of listening and reading and describes a project conducted in Sweden which sought to realize the development of these skills in a short course. (AM)

Describes an experiment confirming the prediction that readers exposed to an explanation of the dramatistic approach to oral interpretation form more detailed and complex initial impressions of the literature than do persons not exposed. Whether this exposure produces better oral performances, however, is a question that should be further…

Presents a variety of approaches to help students develop understanding and positive attitudes toward the complexities of electronic sounds. (Part of a theme issue on aspects of contemporary music.) (Author/SJL)

Presents a synthesis of research on the relationships of listening, speaking, and writing to reading. (MP)

Confirms previous observations about the tonal character of English stress. Notes that Finnish listeners relied on duration as the perceptual cue for noun/noun phrase distinction (blackbird/black bird), reflecting the absence of linguistic contrasts based on an active use of the larynx in standard Finnish stress and intonation. (Author/RL)

Describes the structure of the United Nations (Geneva) French language test, with exerpts from the listening comprehension portion of the test. The test is given to professional candidates to determine their level of functional proficiency in French. (AM)

Discusses general strategies and specific devices to motivate intermediate and advanced students to use the language laboratory frequently and efficiently. Suggests types of materials most effective for language laboratory use. (PMJ)

High school French students showed greater achievement in language skills and more positive attitudes toward French when taught with learning activity packages in French culture. (Editor)