Investigates how effectively multimedia learning environments can assist second language (L2) students in the process of listening comprehension. Looks specifically at how written and pictorial annotations can aid learners in the acquisition of new vocabulary and in comprehension when they listen to an aural L2 passage. (Author/VWL)

Notes that listening competencies are central for getting jobs and succeeding at them. Examines college students' self-perceived listening competencies, particularly as related to their participation in a basic speech communication course. Suggests that direct instruction in listening enhances students' awareness of their listening inadequacies,…

Discusses the task of finding appropriate materials for the beginning levels of language instruction, and presents a cogent rationale for employing a combination of authentic materials and on-campus production that, together, closely follow and reinforce the course syllabus. (Author/OD)

Comprehension of metaphor in preschoolers was studied through an elicited repetition task. It was shown that the metaphors were not semantically anomolous to the children and that they were processed on a par with literal language. (Author/CB)

Describes materials and a specific teaching approach aimed at improving an aspect of children's communication known as referential communication. Argues that this ability and the complementary listening skills are basic to successful classroom discourse and that they are important abilities in most communication. (KO)

The oral foundations of narrative knowledge are examined as a linkage to literacy acquisition problems. Examined are kinds of narrative knowledge acquired, the nature of story organization, and developmental acquisitions in story recall and generation. The performance patterns of language learning-disabled children on oral story recall and…

"Profiles in Listening and Reading" is presented as a screening test assessing listening and reading comprehension of extended discourse, based on the sentence verification technique. A study of 60 seventh graders and another study of 166 fourth, sixth, and eighth graders show some promise for the test's validity and diagnostic usefulness.…

Reviews the research on how readers or listeners construct mental models of the situation a writer or speaker is describing. Narrative components and spatial models are discussed. (YP)

Argues that the most readily available source of input for the independent-minded second language learner comes in the form of radio broadcasts. An approach to the independent study of French, with the use of broadcast radio, emphasizing frequent input, working at home, self-monitoring and immediate feedback, and attention to detail is described.…

The study used 32 children (mean age 11 years) with moderate sensorineural hearing losses to examine whether Test of Auditory Comprehension of Language (TACL) scores were significantly affected by mode of presentation. No differences were found between auditory-only and auditory-visual modes of presentation. (Author/DB)

A native speaker-nonnative speaker conversational adjustment in the relative proportions of information type was examined for its relation to communicative success. Analyses indicated that an increase in the proportion of background detail correlated with comprehension problems for second-language learners. (22 references) (Author/VWL)

Describes a study of the frequency of "backchannels" (listener responses) in English conversations within and across two groups: (1) midwestern Americans; and (2) Japanese raised in Japan. Japanese listeners displayed far more types of backchannels. While Japanese listening style remained unchanged in cross-cultural conversations,…

Discusses the need for early intervention in the primary grades to avoid secondary school drop out, noting that most at risk-secondary students have major deficiencies in reading, writing, and listening, as well as low self-esteem. Reviews the effectiveness of the "Success in Reading and Writing Program" in meeting these needs. (NH)

Two French computer software packages that can be of assistance in teaching French-as-a-Second-Language are described and discussed. One, an authoring aid, contains the format for a series of dialogues and comprehension questions. The other allows the production and manipulation of databases and texts. (MSE)

Focuses upon group processes in order to assess the relationships among group composition, interactive processes, and pupil understanding when a cooperative decision-making task is attempted. Reports the nature of discussion in three broad group types and the relationship of this dialogue to pupil understanding. Suggests other related issues for…