Argues that word learnability and ease in the second-language classroom can serve as guidelines in second-language instruction for the following: the selection of words to be taught; the presentation of words; the facilitation of long-term memorization; the development of strategies for self-learning; and the assessment of vocabulary knowledge.…

Suggests four methods to help students make intelligent guesses and expand their Spanish vocabulary through induction of cognate patterns, including making students consciously aware of cognate patterns; emphasizing general patterns of English abstract words and their corresponding Spanish cognates; enhancing inductive learning strategies through…

Applies a categorical framework for relating compounds and metaphors to a discussion of the aspects of children's development of preferred and metaphoric compounds. Results indicate that preferred compounds serve the function of being conceptually precise, while preferred metaphors serve "suggestive" functions. (Author/CB)

Twenty college students learned sign language vocabularly via an interactive videodisc system, while 20 control group students learned the same signs through a traditional classroom approach. The experimental group took one-third less time to learn as many signs as the control group. (Author/JDD)

Four ideas for French language classroom activities are described, including a vocabulary development exercise about jobs, a reading comprehension exercise; discussion of a Flaubert text; and an art appreciation activity based on a Picasso sculpture. (MSE)

The need for direct, systematic vocabulary instruction in improving language comprehension abilities of hearing-impaired and learning-disabled students is discussed. Vocabulary instruction should be knowledge-based and should be combined with extensive reading opportunities. Sample instructional techniques, such as word maps, semantic feature…

Explores the implications of the principles and parameters theory of Universal Grammar for language teaching. Classroom acquisition depends on the provision of appropriate syntactic evidence to trigger parameter setting, and certain aspects of vocabulary are also crucial. (33 references) (Author/VWL)

Adult second language acquirers were asked to read the first two chapters of "A Clockwork Orange," a novel containing a number of slang words of Russian origin. Subsequent testing revealed modest but significant incidental acquisition of nadsat words. (Author/VWL)

Describes "Language Crafter," a word processor and word game generator that can be used to compose worksheets and invent word games in English, Spanish, French, and German. Bingo, crossword puzzles, word-search puzzles, and scrambled word games can help students develop and improve their foreign language vocabulary. (CB)

A variety of classroom games, exercises, and activities intended to make the learning of French phonetics and vocabulary appealing are suggested. The activities use sound, rhyme, images, and words to stimulate interest and practice. (MSE)

Evaluates the effects of presenting verbal models following the initiations or expressions of interest of 16 children aged 28 to 34 months on both production and comprehension abilities measures. Results suggest that the timing of exposure to language models plays a critical role in language acquisition. (RJC)

Discusses children's use of invented spelling and explores developmental considerations in learning to spell. Suggests characteristics of an effective spelling program, including 60 to 75 minutes of instruction allocated over a 3- to 4-day cycle, and use of test-study sequences for directed word study. (ET)

The use of deictic words from 5 classes by 4 preschool teachers and 12 children with hearing losses was examined. Teachers used a total of 648 deictic words versus the children's 172 examples. Personal pronouns were the most frequently used class, followed by demonstrative pronouns, adverbs of location, shifting reference verbs, and adverbs of…

In a study of event knowledge, 13 2-year-olds were observed interacting with their mothers over a 5-month period. Results indicated that children's increasing event knowledge facilitated their language development (e.g., lexical type use, action verb use) and their lexical token use. (Contains 33 references.) (Author/LB)

A behavioral systems analysis approach to higher education was used to design, implement, evaluate, and recycle a computer-based fluency training component of a behavioral instructional system. This component helped 29 students achieve behavior analysis literacy. The computer-based training provided structure, immediate performance feedback, and…