The origins of tracking, a method for developing more native-like speech for advanced adult English-as-a-Second-Language learners, are discussed, and a rationale for using this method is explained. The method is then presented with enough information for a language teacher to implement it with learners. (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse on ESL Literacy…

Makes an appeal for corpus-based research with the objective of helping local English-as-a-Second-Language teachers deliver pedagogically sound error correction feedback to their students. Two examples are provided to illustrate how a teacher can use corrective feedback to help learners self-monitor their own written English output. (Author/VWL)

Investigates word frequency as an indicator of language proficiency in the written English of Grade 13 learners of English in Hong Kong. The study develops Laufer and Nation's (1995) work on Lexical Frequency Profile in which student writing was analyzed for the frequency of word families, with vocabulary profiles produced from the scripts on the…

Investigates the relationship between knowing and using the perfect tense in French in a small-scale study carried out over 2 years involving a small group of learners. (Author/VWL)

Examines the relationship between phonetic possibility and phonological permissibility of segment types. Specific focus is on whether there are any phonetically impossible segments phonologically permissible, and whether there are any phonetically possible segments phonologically impermissable. Examines the case of nasality spreading in Sudanese…

Introduces the activity of student-written reading logs as a practical application of reader-response theory in English-as-Foreign-Language literature teaching. Because reader-response theory stresses the synthesis between reader and text, it is proposed that practical applications should be based on the interaction. (Author/VWL)

Seeks to guide language program coordinators in the creation of a teaching assistant (TA) handbook on logistics and administrative duties in second and foreign language programs at the university level. (Author/VWL)

Drawing from the study of efforts to revitalize Quichua in the Southern Ecuadorian Highlands, this article describes what may be some of the common language corpus and language status transformations that threatened languages undergo during the process of language revitalization. (Author/VWL)

Discusses how reading strategies can be successfully taught in second or foreign-language reading instruction, examining research that has been done on reading-strategy training and confronting the issue of how to make reading-strategy instruction appropriately text and context sensitive. Research that emphasizes the five metacognitive elements…

Analyzes results obtained at GCSE by students involved in a joint languages diversification scheme in which they studied two languages in parallel for three years. Comparisons are made across languages, with other subjects, and with results achieved by the previous year group, which entered before diversification. Findings reveal various issues…

Examines techniques for generating positive test washback to teachers and students, and their relevance in the teaching of Italian as a second language. A sample Italian test is offered to demonstrate how the criteria for positive washback can be met in an exam that challenges students to develop all four language skills (listening, speaking,…

Compares advantages and disadvantages of most types of modern dictionaries from teachers' and researchers' as well as students' points of view. Shows that if clear distinctions are made between learning, test-taking, reading for pleasure, or extensive reading, each type dictionary can be used by itself or in combination with another dictionary,…

Describes the use of grammatical terminology in the practices of four second-language teachers, discussing the motivations for teachers' decisions regarding this aspect of their work. Audio recordings of teachers' lessons and interviews in which teachers discussed the use of terminology in their lessons indicated that a range of experiential,…

Proposes to strengthen the theoretical basis supporting hypermedia computer-assisted language-learning (CALL) authoring by initiating a requirements analysis based on contextualized conceptual and mental models, presenting the theoretical dimension of knowledge representations within the authoring process and applying the theoretical approach to…

Examines the role of phrase-level parallelism on noun phrase number agreement and demonstrates Puerto Rican Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese exhibit more similarities than differences with regard to this constraint. Claims the phrase-level parallelism effect on noun phrase number agreement is embedded in a universal principle of linguistic use:…