Describes how one college professor begins each semester by asking his students, "How does who you are and where you stand in relation to others shape what you know about the world?" Suggests that by enabling students to speak out of their unique experiences, the class can better cope with the power relations within every classroom…

Reports on two studies on input enhancement used to support learners' selection of focus of attention in Spanish second language listening material. Input consisted of video recordings of dialogues between native speakers. Exact repetition and speech rate reduction were examined for effect on comprehension, acquisition of decoding strategies, and…

A New York camp program builds campers' social skills through use of "request power,""deny power," and conflict resolution. The steps of conflict resolution are position of strength, exchange of wants, proposals for win-win resolution, and acceptance or nonacceptance of proposal. Campers learn to identify what they want, listen…

A study examined the effect of listening practice on the ability of 20 young adults to comprehend natural speech and DECtalk synthesized speech. Response latencies of participants shortened in a similar fashion to sentences presented in both types of speech across a 5-day period, with latencies remaining significantly longer in response to…

The study sought to evaluate open-set word recognition in 54 French, English, and German patients using 5 different kinds of cochlear implants. Three experiments assessed their word recognition in word lists and sentences, environmental sound perception, and gap detection. (Author/JDD)

Examines whether using a combined silent reading-listening mode to administer the "Social Studies Inference Test" optimized information gathering. Finds that the combined modality produced more correct inferences than did silent reading alone. Finds only one gender difference--girls'"caution score" was higher than that for…

Argues that literacy needs to include speaking and listening skills. Outlines the Washington State Core Competency Project that identified three levels--communication codes, oral message evaluation, and basic speech--and developed ways to teach these competencies to adult learners. (SK)

Four ideas for French language class activities are presented, including: a listening and reading comprehension exercise; the adaption of a traditional French game using facts of French history; an activity based on France's geographic regions and postal codes; and an exercise focusing on facts about French life and culture. (MSE)

Offers practical ideas on music criticism, developing listening skills, solving budgetary problems in the music department, and providing effective music and arts courses for students who are not in performance classes. (GEA)

Reports two experiments evaluating the effect of map feature content on text recall by subjects of varying reading skill levels. Finds that both experiments support the conjoint retention hypothesis, in which dual-coding of spatial and verbal information and their interaction in memory enhance recall. (MM)

Describes how storytelling can enhance both literal and inferential comprehension, motivate oral discussion, increase perceptual knowledge of metaphor, explain and promote interesting language usage, instill deeper meaning to children's personal experiences, and excite children about literature, storytelling, and creative interpretations of story.…

The study examined the developmental lag hypothesis for learning disabilities by evaluating dichotic listening ability using both free recall and directed attention conditions in 24 learning disabled (LD) adults. Findings indicated LD adults showed similar deficits in lateralized selective auditory linguistic processing as children with LD. (DB)

Examined two verbal process variables in counseling: accuracy and relevance of counselor recall statements. Undergraduates (N=64) rated videotaped counselor's performance. When recall comments were at high accuracy level, participants' perceptions of counselor were significantly more favorable than when comments were at low level. Different levels…

Makes a case for asking secondary students to read their compositions aloud to their peers. Reviews techniques that may be taught to prepare students for public reading and listening. Describes a program in which high school students write custom-made stories for individual elementary school students. (TB)

Children often confuse what is said and what is meant in referential communication. Five- and six-year olds were exposed as listeners or evaluators to a message in which they were either aware or not aware of the referent intended. Found that only six-year olds benefited from instructions to focus on the literal meaning of the message. (BC)