Black preschoolers were studied for the effects of memory enhancing training strategies, socioeconomic status, and the order of free and cued recall on story comprehension. The study also tested the utility of Kintsch's expository text analysis procedures in describing the structure of children's stories and children's oral recall of stories. In…

The aim of this text is to introduce Liberian English, which includes the many varieties of English spoken by Liberians, to Peace Corps volunteers. The text is divided into two sections. The first part talks about Liberian English, while the second part uses Liberian English to describe aspects of contemporary Liberian culture. Part one contains…

The Indochinese student brings a unique set of linguistic, cultural, and psychological problems to the English as a second language (ESL) classroom. Indochinese refugees may be illiterate in their first language, lack the prior education needed to cope with a formalized learning situation, have traditional learning and study patterns that…

Noting that while high school students have received instruction in reading and writing, few have received any instruction in speaking and listening skills, this document advocates a greater recognition of the need for a more realistic balance of instruction in the four communication areas than has traditionally been the case. Sections of the…

In an effort to learn at which level of language proficiency English for Special Purposes can be taught effectively to nonnative speakers, 50 students at an electronics institute in Algeria were administered eight tests after a 16-week intensive English course. Four of the tests were of skills in English as a second language (ESL): the grammar…

Because of concern about the communication skills of dentists from countries of the European Economic Community wishing to practice in England, a project was undertaken to develop a pilot test of English language skills focusing on listening and speaking skills in dental practice contexts. This report is a descriptive statement of the nature of…

This study assesses 7- to 12-year-old children's abilities to understand the figural and metrical aspects of rhythm. Tasks were developed to assess children's ability to (1) make figural and metrical descriptions, (2) interpret figural and metrical descriptions, (3) produce the metrical hierarchy through drumming, (4) describe the metrical…

Concerned primarily with interactive radio for instruction, this issue highlights radio projects in developing countries that have proven to be a successful tool for educational development. These include: (1) an experimental project designed to investigate the feasibility of using radio as a medium of instruction in the teaching of elementary…

Noting that writers frequently use reading aloud to evaluate written drafts, two studies were conducted to determine the extent to which holistic scores assigned by readers to college freshman essays correlated with holistic scores assigned by listeners. One study used 39 narrative essays, the other used 39 expository essays. The results of the…

In the comprehension approach to second language instruction, the major procedure is to provide students with comprehensible input, which it is the students' responsibility to understand. The aim is to encourage nucleation of the target language, that is the crystallization of the rule system. Teaching procedures focus on strategies for implicit…

Elementary language arts programs demand a balanced use of reading, writing, speaking, and listening. (JH)

While research usually emphasizes the decrements of older persons, increases in human relations skills may be among the observable gains of aging. The present study, conducted in the Counseling Center of the Andrus Gerontology Center, evaluates the potential of using older volunteers as peer counselors. Subjects were 11 persons from a larger pool…

This study develops an information model based on the processes involved in reading and listening as a step toward constructing a single framework for understanding both these skills. Assuming that analogous structures and processes occur in reading and listening, similar experimental questions are asked in both areas. The model incorporates data…

Intended for use by managers, this guide is meant to focus attention on communication skills and to provide a new approach to improving interpersonal communications. The authors divide these skills into two categories--listening and speaking. Effective listening entails skillful use of paraphrasing (any method of showing the speaker what his or…

This report reviews evidence that there are differences between oral and written English that lead to differences in the skills and knowledge necessary to comprehend them. Three categories of differences are considered in an attempt to derive specific, testable hypotheses: differences in the physical nature of speech and writing, differences in…