Forty-five papers on linguistic theory and language research from the annual conference address these topics: aspects of discourse analysis; agreement languages; grammatical relations; syntax; phonology; grammar; contrastive linguistics; second language learning; syntax; quotations; topic management; aphasia; interpersonal communication; laughter;…

There is a growing awareness among some Arab education specialists that the low levels of educational achievement and high illiteracy and low literacy rates in most Arab countries are directly related to the complexities of the standard Arabic language used in formal schooling and non-formal education. The complexities mostly relate to the…

This book offers an overview of the events surrounding the development of the two official language communities (English and French) of Canada during the last 30 years and the establishment of a model of official bilingualism. The text is provided in both languages. Chapter 1 describes the context of language change: historical origins of…

An approach to developing college students' critical thinking skills, designed for freshman composition students but adaptable for other disciplines, is outlined. Components include: establishing bounds of analysis; using bibliography to foster scholarship; capitalizing on emotional response; learning the genre to be analyzed by writing in it;…

Examines, through an interview technique based on models and pictures, the impact of the language of instruction on concept development in Form One and Form Three science students. Analysis of the data collected suggests that the language of instruction significantly affects concept attainment for Form One students, but not for Form Three,…

Current teacher education programs do not provide appropriate knowledge for teaching minority students. The article focuses on American Indian students as an example. It discusses the value of using students' home language and culture at school, particularly in the early years, and stresses the value of responsive teaching methods. (SM)

Trends in college foreign language education include growth in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction, greater emphasis on spoken language, increased use of technology, more intensive instruction, integration with other academic programs, new kinds of academic appointments, and revised promotion and tenure requirements for language…

A study at one Taiwan medical school investigated perceptions of faculty (n=20) and students (n=349) about students' English-language needs. English was perceived as important for students' academic studies and future work. Students wanted a basic freshman-year English course, with listening the most important skill to improve. Students and…

Mathematics educators are concerned about students' lack of ability to translate mathematical word problems into computable forms. Researchers argue that linguistic problems lie at the root of students' difficulties with mathematical word problems. The issue becomes more complicated for bilingual students. It is argued that if students study…

An introduction to contemporary views of second/foreign language course design is intended for even relatively inexperienced teachers wishing to meet the somewhat sophisticated current expectations for language training. First, it provides theoretical background concerning the concepts of communicative competence and second language proficiency,…

This article presents theoretical considerations behind the Jyvaskyla teacher in-service development program in teaching content through a foreign language and surveys some international experiences of bilingual education. The term "bilingual program" refers to all variations of bilingual education and teaching of non-language subjects…

Articles contained in this special issue on language usage in Hong Kong, particularly in the context of elementary and secondary education, include: "A Comparison of English Errors Made by Hong Kong Students and Those Made by Non-Native Learners of English Internationally" (David Bunton); "Errors in Guides to English Usage for Hong…

The guide contains profiles of the linguistic situation and English language teaching conditions, in both public and private sectors, in 48 foreign countries. Descriptions include such information as official language(s), qualifications and requirements for teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), typical class sizes and hours, accessibility…

A study investigated the Taiwanese people's attitudes toward the issue of requiring English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction at the elementary school level in Taiwan. Taiwanese students (n=45) at Indiana University, Bloomington were randomly selected as subjects from a Chinese student association directory. They were 21-43 years old, from 21…

A survey investigated the attitudes of educated Greeks about possible modifications in the orthographic representation of written Greek. Subjects were 82 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program in English Language and Literature offered at the University of Cyprus. The subjects were administered a 20-item Likert-type questionnaire…