In examining the Kopchuk case (dismissal of an industrial arts teacher due to lack of French language competence) the author asserts that school boards should make reasonable efforts to retain proven teachers (including retraining and leave of absence) where dismissal would occur for reasons other than incompetence or insubordination. (MB)

Fifty-six children (ages 5-11) were presented with plastic playpeople, and scenarios were enacted to elicit emotionally descriptive vocabulary. Children under the age of 8 had a limited repertoire of labels to describe emotions. Even older children were unable to produce vocabulary expresses emotional concepts described by adults. (Author/CR)

Reports the results of a large-scale survey on the demand for business German in German-American companies. Results showed German proficiency was not considered a key qualification, but a significant portion of oral communication in these companies took place in German. German proficiency was most needed in management and marketing departments.…

An analysis of the language of instruction in Hong Kong universities found a mismatch between espoused theory/policy and theory in use with respect to English as the medium of instruction, English as a second language, and improvement of English standards. Student comments suggested that the discrepancies lead to declining standards because of…

Examined the degree to which test scores reflect English proficiency using data on students whose native language was Spanish. They had taken the GRE, English proficiency tests, and the PAEG, a test in Spanish used for admission to graduate schools in Puerto Rico. Found that quantitative, analytical, and subject tests are more highly related to…

Examines the discrepancies between students' perceptions of their foreign language performance and teachers' perceptions of their students' performance in the foreign language. Focuses specifically on where the discrepancies are in terms of different skills (e.g., reading, speaking), the level at which most discrepancies are most evident; and the…

Discusses the results of a study designed to observe, compare, and assess the teaching practices used in two language programs (French and Spanish). The study was conducted to find out just how different proficiency-oriented and acquisition-oriented classes are. (five references) (GLR)

Findings from an investigation into the effectiveness of an explicit training model on low socioeconomic (SES) four- and five-year-old's (N=26) ability to solve geometric analogy problems suggest that higher level cognitive skills of low SES preschoolers can be enhanced through instruction. (IAH)

Describes two related experiments into the effect of prereading on the text comprehension of a population of second-language (L2) learners at three proficiency levels. Indicates that the more constraining, schemata-provision formats used in experiment one are more effective as aids to text comprehension. (MG)

Investigated the second-language acquisition of English noun phrases in discourse, examining the effect of discourse markedness and structural markedness on the development of the noun phrase. It was found that second language learners distinguish between discourse contexts, acquiring more targetlike forms in the least marked context and least…

Arguments raised against the Critical Period Hypothesis of second language learning are refuted. It is suggested both that sufficient research evidence exists to support the hypothesis and that the hypothesis was not represented accurately or contradicted convincingly in the criticisms. (Author/MSE)

Describes the Listening Comprehension Exercise Network, a system that allows for the sharing of listening exercises in Russian via computer networks. The network, which could be emulated in other languages, alleviates the problem of time spent on developing essentially "throw-away" exercises. (21 references) (Author/CB)

Reviews a volume of descriptive and evaluative information on 47 commercially available English language proficiency tests used in North America, Great Britain, and Australia. The book includes discussions of uses and misuses of tests, and overviews of English as second language testing in North America and Great Britain. (SV)

Responds to criticism against the use of the oral proficiency interview for foreign language testing through examination of the concept of logic and language testing, components of speaking ability, and the limits of linguistic theory. (20 references) (CB)

The economic and political implications of a linguistically incompetent America are far-reaching and frightening. While other nations attain direct access to U.S. information through the public media, Americans need translators and interpreters. Self-interest is also a worthy incentive for choosing and studying foreign languages. Includes 19…