Kachru suggests that it is time to reevaluate the dominant paradigms in second-language acquisition research from a bilingual/multilingual perspective. Sridhar suggests a reality check in the reevaluation of second-language acquisition theories. (45 references) (JL)

Reviews a book that presents the proceedings of three round-tables and descriptions of the goals and aims of the Language and Society section at the Moscow Institute of Linguistics (1988-90). (six references) (LT)

As the mobility of Europeans increase, multicultural education, especially the issue of the language of instruction, becomes a great challenge. Spanish examples demonstrate that of the models of management for cultural diversity, unity through pluralism is the most desirable. (SK)

Belgium's German-speaking community feels the need for multilingualism more than most. Since 1990, French language instruction has been seriously promoted in elementary school, as much for teachers as for students. A six-year curriculum plan takes students from early exposure to creative and autonomous language use. A pilot program is under way.…

Discusses the ethnographic investigation of a multilingual adolescent peer group in which various forms of second/other-language learner status had considerable social significance. The study illustrates the ways a repertoire of languages and language learner statuses serve as differentiated resources adolescents draw on to define community and…

Examines to what extent negotiation of meaning can be useful in reading instruction in order to make written input comprehensible. Finds that negotiating the meaning of unmodified written input led to higher comprehension than premodifying the same input. Suggests guidelines as to the role teachers should play when input is negotiated in the…

Other languages in Israel, such as Yiddish, Ladino, Judeo-Arabic, and Judeo-Persian suffer from a serious lack of well-prioritized efforts in accord with their specific language planning needs. This current insufficiency of funds and effort may lead to the early demise of most Jewish languages other than Hebrew in Israel, with the exception of…

Discusses the urgency of therapeutic appraisal tests for various types of aphasia in India, where the clinical population comes from multilingual, multiethnic, and multicultural backgrounds; has a low literacy level; and hails from various geographical regions. The need for good diagnostic tests is imperative for a detailed evaluation of language…

Examines the reasons behind Maltese children's choice of languages. Presents results of a survey designed to learn which languages Maltese children are being taught and what the perceptions are regarding the importance of the most commonly taught languages in Malta. (Author)

Focuses on the roles, relationships, and talk of two kinds of teachers--language specialists and subject specialists--in multilingual and multicultural mainstream English secondary school classrooms. An analysis is undertaken of how the teachers are differently constructed through their discursive, pedagogic classroom practices. (Author/VWL)

The European Union principle of free worker movement across borders requires thorough knowledge of the language of the country of employment. Multilingualism, including intercultural skills, is a key employment skill that should be acquired early. (SK)

Investigated attitudes toward diversity held by professionals at Pennsylvania and Michigan Cooperative Extension. Surveys of Extension personnel indicated that respondents in both states had positive attitudes toward equality of gender, were comfortable with people different from themselves, preferred cultural diversity and pluralism to…

Describes various aspects of multilingualism in Lebanon and its impact on education, reviewing research on urban multilingualism, presenting case studies of the language and literacy practices of multilingual Lebanese people, and examining educational implications of multilingualism (i.e., students' attitudes toward reading, writing, and their…

Draws on two research projects in South Africa to describe and discuss the language practices of teachers in primary multilingual mathematics classrooms. Contends that while at a general political and pedagogical level it makes sense for teachers to encourage and use code-switching as a learning and teaching resource, this is not a straightforward…

Discusses reasons for the collapse of mother tongue instruction in Sweden, including such issues as the transfer of implementation and economic responsibilities of educational politics to the municipalities; the unwillingness in Swedish society to support the bilingualism/biculturalism of minority pupils, and the poor municipal information and…