Investigates: (1) whether differences exist in comprehension when children listen, read orally, and read silently; and (2) whether such differences exist for all readers. Finds that relationships between the three modalities vary as a function of level of reading competency. (SR)

The introduction of computer technologies into the regular school system has not been very successful, probably because of the lack of sound curricular integration. Proposals are offered for courseware development that will better fit into the modern languages curriculum. (Contains three references.) (Author/LB)

Focuses on how teachers can help young children become better listeners. Shows how building listening skills is dependent upon a positive classroom communication environment. Gives specific goals and activities for the classroom, and for parent involvement and practice at home. Teacher listening behavior, as well as child listening behavior, is…

Investigated overextensions in comprehension and production, using the preferential-looking model, in 99 children (ages 1;9 to 2;3) who were asked to find the referent that matched the label they were given in real and anomalous trials. Results confirm that overextensions in production are not diagnostic of children's underlying semantic…

Examines the ability of monolingual English-speaking subjects to judge whether two spoken samples are from the same or different unknown foreign language. Performance of subjects was only a small degree above chance, while at the same time giving reliable information about recognition and identification skills. Further studies are needed. (16…

This study looked at whether prior learning of a lecture topic enhanced performance on the lecture subtests of a content-based listening test. Data was analyzed from 11 lecture subtests from the Test of Listening for Academic Purposes. (JL)

A California pilot program is described in which five hard-of-hearing students enrolled in a mainstream high school German class. Although their speech in English was limited and their hearing loss was severe, they kept up with their hearing classmates in reading, writing, and listening (lip reading) and could speak as intelligibly in German as in…

Examined strategies that students reported using in the comprehension and learning of new information while listening to two radio broadcasts in Spanish. The findings have implications for both the use of authentic listening materials in instruction and for listening strategy research. (51 references) (LB)

This study examined the constructive cognitive activity of children listening to text. Analysis of thinking-aloud protocols of 109 children in grades 1 to 6 identified 5 levels of constructive activity, with 3 subtypes at each level. Path analysis indicates that only constructive activity exerts a direct effect on learning. (SLD)

Strategic support is needed for nonnative speakers of English to understand university lectures better. The application of the techniques of genre analysis to a corpus of lecture introductions is reported. Teaching implications are considered. (25 references) (Author/LB)

Explores how auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and symbolic/abstract learning modalities can be applied to interpretive presentations to capture an entire audience. In addition to addressing diverse learning styles, the article discusses presentation outlines, making the concept personal, combining song, music, and drama, and using action rather than…

Use of television as material for French second-language instruction is explored. It is proposed that, over the course of a three-year sequence, students can progress through three stages of listening comprehension skill development: discovery of the medium's unique characteristics; autonomy and mastery in its use; and familiarity. (MSE)

Conflicting evidence regarding listening comprehension as a separate trait in language proficiency is reviewed. Two studies conducted in Japan are presented that use the multitrait-multimethod methodology to examine the construct validity of the listening trait. (74 references) (Author/LB)

Illustrates the use of thematic fantasy play, or play that involves the enactment of stories from literature, in a kindergarten classroom. Maintains that thematic fantasy play facilitates children's development of social competence and story comprehension. (BB)

This study evaluated English phrases and sentences in a minimal-pairs syllable-test format, to assess use of acoustic cues in audiovisual perception of speech by persons with severe or profound hearing loss. Of 48 items, 39 were visually confusable; 16 items identified as visually confusable were reliably identifiable when sound was added.…