A theoretical framework is presented for understanding difficulties in foreign language learning, based upon a linguistic coding model that hypothesizes deficits in phonological, syntactic, and semantic information processing. Incidence of linguistic coding problems in 22 college-enrolled or college-bound students who petitioned to have the…

Describes a teaching strategy--word sorting--that helps students to develop more accurate and automatized word recognition and spelling ability. Describes a series of word categorization activities in which students compare and contrast various word features or properties. (MG)

Describes an undergraduate course at the Open University in Great Britain that teaches software engineering. Highlights include the use of formal methods to interpret the programing language's syntax and semantics; the role of course software; home use of microcomputers for the course; and supporting course materials. (LRW)

Conducted national survey of administrators, graduate faculty members, and graduate students (total N=320) to examine names used to describe field: student personnel, student affairs, student services, and student development. Results revealed significant and differential preferences: student development was term preferred overall, with student…

Demonstrates the relevance of second language teaching by discussing the English progressive aspect. Suggestions are made for how the teaching of the progressive to beginners of English could be improved. (Author/VWL)

Describes how students can use the computer to study and create clone poems (altering original Spanish-language poems by substituting words and expressions), and how students can gain a deeper appreciation of the original poem's poetic structure and semantics. (CB)

Discusses a study of the expressive qualities of oral language. Results suggest that there is a natural rather than an arbitrary relationship between words and their meanings. Practical applications of this theory of phonetic symbolism in the area of commercial advertising are presented. (CFM)

Describes an approach to genre analysis that aims to complement existing descriptions of genres by focusing on semantic relationships between structural elements in texts. The article presents the theoretical background to the approach and then describes an example of its application within the context of the language-learning classroom. (45…

Describes a list of attributes of instructional materials based on a review of instructional design literature that was validated and found reliable through a series of studies. Four categories of attributes are presented: (1) instructional design; (2) language, including semantic and syntactic structures; (3) presentation, including layout; and…

Eleven young children with borderline to moderate levels of mental retardation (mean initial age 47.7 months) received 3 to 4 sessions weekly of milieu language training in a small group play situation. Milieu teaching was associated with enhanced generativity and use of semantic relationships. (Author/DB)

A framework is formulated to explain the context and content sensitivity involved in the meaning of utterances of sentences containing a modal auxiliary. It is argued that the English language is based in a relatively simple, well-structured semantic system, yet it is used on a highly complex world of communication. (Contains 39 references.) (LB)

Describes the development of a Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) by the National Library of Medicine that will retrieve and integrate information from a variety of information resources. Highlights include the metathesaurus; the UMLS semantic network; semantic locality; information sources map; evaluation of the metathesaurus; future…

Discusses the role of visual aids in second language teaching, focusing on their ability to represent sounds or structures; portray cultural features; provide situational awareness; and elicit verbal output, both controlled and free. (39 references) (MDM)

This empirical study examines the effects of visible link-types on learning in a hypertext environment. Learning outcomes and learning processes of two groups, one using visible link-types and one not using them, are compared; results of an attitude questionnaire are discussed; further research is suggested; and the questionnaire is appended. (LRW)

Discusses four general principles that help explain young children's preoperational thinking. Children tend to focus on one thing at a time; what they can see or experience; their own connections or explanations; and their own interpretations and representations. Suggests that teachers need to be good listeners and watch for clues to children's…