Although the literature has suggested a variety of helpful ways to deal with international students, academic librarians should become more aware of pronunciation differences, more attuned to meanings, and more tactful and sensitive to differing cultural perspectives. Formal coursework in foreign language and culture is suggested. (EA)

Examines Australia's reverse language shift (RLS), presenting eight stages of RLS for immigrant-derived and Aboriginal languages and noting the severity of intergenerational dislocation. Aboriginal languages are dying quickly, and language shift continues in immigrant-based community languages. Steps to encourage second language learning are often…

Following a literature review of recent research on learning styles and English-as-a-Foreign-Language in the People's Republic of China (PRC), a replication of Reid's 1987 U.S. study is described. Statistical analysis suggests factors that relate to learning style differences and indicates that PRC students appear to have multiple learning styles.…

Reviews two books on issues of Native American education: (1) "Light of the Feather: Pathways through Contemporary Indian America" (M. Fedullo); and (2) "Teaching American Indian Students" (J. Rehner). (ME)

Observed and analyzed the play of 60 U.S. and Mexican toddlers and their mothers. Found cultural differences in children's pretend play, the mutual involvement of mothers and children in pretend play, the behaviors mothers used to structure play, and mothers' value of children's play. (MM)

Surveyed 154 Native Americans about their knowledge, attitudes, and risk behaviors related to AIDS, as a basis for developing a culturally relevant AIDS prevention intervention. Found a generally high level of knowledge about HIV transmission and prevention, although some misconceptions exist. Men have less accurate knowledge and more conservative…

A study of work and economics, technology, and culture in Tanzania reveals that (1) material returns to rural workers were barely life sustaining; (2) people live dignified lives without consuming much; (3) simpler technological solutions were better; (4) tension exists between competitiveness and humaneness; and (5) tribal traditions contribute…

Many minority students face problems when attending community colleges. Adjustment to college life requires skills and knowledge for understanding the higher education system that minority students often lack. Minority students could benefit by being involved in decisions affecting them; an orientation to higher education is essential. (JOW)

This article summarizes cultural linguistic trends of the past decade and projects them into future years. Responses of educators to cultural linguistic diversity are reviewed. Problems posed by this diversity are identified and suggestions are offered for teaching the culturally and linguistically different child. (DB)

Examines research on comparative differences in reading disabilities to determine whether findings corroborate the belief that learning to read in Japanese produces fewer reading disabilities resulting from its writing system. Suggests that there is no perfect orthography and that a small percentage of children will have difficulty in learning to…

Discusses the need to market information services in Africa and examines some of the obstacles to the use of library and information services. Highlights include technological changes; management issues, including a negative image of librarians; marketing information to a population with low use of libraries; the role of governments; and culture…

It is proposed that, in the near future, universities will undergo a major transformation, similar to but much more complex than those in the nineteenth century; and a new, deeper conception of scholarship is needed. The transformed scholarship would be multicultural in nature and would integrate facts and values. (MSE)

This study shows that a placement test cannot only be examined for items that display differential item functioning (DIF) by using an item response theory, but also that the identification of potential sources for these DIF items can be attempted and short- and long-term measures to reduce DIF can then be proposed. (JL)

As college students become more diverse, there is more conflict on campus. Elements in these conflicts include confusion about the concept of equality, the idea that difference entails opposition, and the assumption that a particular set of human characteristics is fundamentally better than another. Commitment to diversity is commitment to…

Suggestions for adapting automated training materials for foreign audiences include accurate translation; culturalization; simplicity; clarity; anticipated uses, display formats, text characteristics, and software compatibility; costs; and attention to the pitfalls of jargon, cliches, acronyms, numbers, money, sports metaphors, and humor. (SK)