Research on the effect of bilingualism on third language acquisition was initially set in the framework of the study of potential differences between monolinguals acquiring a second language and bilinguals learning a third language. However, many authors have already started to concentrate on third language acquisition itself, and have…

A new report finds that all states and the District of Columbia have now ushered in new English-language-proficiency tests to comply with No Child Left Behind Act requirements for those still learning the language. The report, "English Language Proficiency Assessment in the Nation: Current Status and Future Practice," released by the University of…

Enrollments in foreign-language courses at American colleges and universities have jumped 13 percent since 2002, with Arabic and Chinese showing the most-dramatic increases, according to a report released last week by the Modern Language Association. The number of students studying Arabic soared 126.5 percent between 2002 and 2006, while the…

It may seem obvious that students with limited reading skills also have limited educational opportunities. Students acquiring English as their second, non-native language--presently referred to as English Language Learners (ELLs)--face this obstacle. Fortunately, a body of research has emerged that provides specific techniques for supporting and…

This article describes oral language and early literacy skills in Spanish and English for a sample of 319 bilingual children in Massachusetts and Maryland (ECS) and a comparison group of 144 monolingual Spanish-speaking children in Puerto Rico (PRC). Children were assessed as they entered and exited pre-kindergarten programs. Data collection…

This research article describes the English acquisition of three, young, high-achieving, Korean, bilingual students, their academic development and their social/psychological adjustment in school. All observations and interviews were conducted in the natural classroom setting. The Korean children underwent different school experiences, partially…

Confusion, misinterpretations, and conflicting theoretical beliefs seem to be characteristic of language assessment practices. Much of the confusion and misrepresentation are due to the great variety of terms used in the language assessment process and to incomplete definitions of these terms and their operations. In an attempt to clarify the…

Based upon selected aspects of the theory of definition as proposed by Leonard (1967), results of the different conceptions of language proficiency are discussed. Properties of definitions, such as ambiguity and vagueness, and basic rules for defining terms are applied to current definitions of language proficiency in order to evaluate their…

Present definitions of proficiency and communicative competence ignore intonation as part of higher-level discourse, despite clear evidence that intonation plays a role in negotiating discourse meanings. Intonation practice should be incorporated into classroom discourse activities. (MSE)

The linguistic abilities of three adult deaf-blind subjects who acquired language through the Tadoma method (involves monitoring a speaker's articulatory motions by placing a hand on his face) were examined. The subjects' English language abilities were excellent, suggesting that the tactile sense is adequate in highly trained Tadoma users in…

When elementary, junior high, and college students were given German pronunciation instruction for two weeks and tested, the two older groups performed significantly better. (Editor/SP)

23 million Americans lack the reading and writing skills needed to handle the minimal demands of daily life. The widespread problem of functional illiteracy pervades every segment of society and could erode the ability of the nation to keep up with other technologically advanced countries. (SK)

Children exhibiting a referential orientation seem more likely to acquire new object names than nonreferentially oriented children. Also, children's selection of words may be influenced by the phonological structure of the words. (Author/RH)