Suggests a way of looking at difficulties students have in using words appropriately, and an approach for presenting this information to students. The discussion concentrates on: (1) restrictions on words that can co-occur; and (2) rules for the grammatical marking of various noun phrases that occur with certain verbs and adjectives. (Author/PJM)

A training program in which operant procedures were used to improve the identification and definition of selected vocabulary words by a 6-year-old mildly retarded Down's syndrome girl is described. Results showed that the S had generalized the training and the findings were replicated with two additional children. (PHR)

Investigated the effects of text modification and task on incidental learning of foreign-language vocabulary by reading. The study focuses on how different cue types and a task would affect processing of input, initial learning, and retention of the meaning of target words. Results indicate that single and multiple-choice marginal gloss conditions…

Presents modules and learning activities taken from other learning areas useful in the Australian second-language classroom. Argues that general and specific subject areas can stimulate dialogue and interest as well as cultural and social awareness, provide new language structures, enrich vocabulary and extend the use of idiomatic expressions, and…

Summarizes progressions between 2 and 6 years of age in children's power of concentration, ability to express ideas, build logical relationships, structure spoken words, and play with the semantic, phonetic, syntactical, and morphological aspects of oral language. Notes that the progression depends on the educator's interaction with the child.…

Presents a case study of an adult student preparing for her first year of college through a writing course and work in a writing workshop. Explains complicating circumstances in the student's life. Presents four professional responses commenting on the difficulties of the situation and possible solutions. (TB)

Describes two elementary social studies projects where a ClarisWorks database was used to teach database vocabulary and to teach students to develop and design a curriculum-related database. (AEF)

Discusses the implications of the tendency of adult second-language learners to develop a well-structured, simple form of language outside the classroom, i.e. the Basic Variety (BV). Focuses on the structural properties of the BV, the status of these properties and the reasons why some structural properties of "fully fledged" languages are more…

Presents a quasi-experimental study conducted among younger immersion students that focused on determining whether an area of French vocabulary identified as problematic for these students can be successfully learned via increased exposure to such vocabulary in interesting reading material supplemented with associated analytic language activities.…

Discusses an experiment in testing college students in France on their recall of newly learned English words in order to compare the advantages and disadvantages of context and translation learning as a function of learner proficiency. Results reveal a superiority of translation learning in terms of quantity, but an inability of weaker learners to…

Examines the differences between language teaching in private and public institutions in the same country. The study uses learners' reports on how they are taught and how they learn new English vocabulary as a guide to examine the differences between the two prevailing pedagogical environments in Greece--private institutes of foreign languages and…

Discusses a study involving the use of Spanish keywords to acquire English vocabulary by Hispanic students of English as a Second Language (ESL). Results indicate that the keyword method produces superior recall and comprehension immediately and after one week and that this method is readily adaptable to ESL classrooms. (39 references) (Author/CK)

Examines the conflict between students' focus on learning the grammar and vocabulary of a foreign language instead of considering the culture that lies beneath the target language, in this case, Italian. Suggestions are made for overcoming the practical difficulty of imposing a language as a cultural entity upon the students. (25 references) (CK)

A study evaluated the effects of training 47 teachers of children with autism in the use of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). Following training, significant, rapid increases were recorded in the level of PECS attained by the students (n=34), in students' PECS vocabulary, and in students' use of PECS. (Contains references.) (CR)

Reports on a pilot study examining the effects of reading and interactive vocabulary instruction on the vocabulary development of English-as-a-Second-language students attending a U.S. university-preparatory intensive English program. Findings suggest that such instruction combined with self-selected and course-related reading can improve…