At the first Conference on Navajo Orthography held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1969, participants agreed upon a uniform orthography for Navajo developed by William Morgan and Robert Young and recommended development of a Navajo adult literacy program. Participants included representatives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Tribal Council…

Examines the often-cited crucial relationship between international education and the study of languages. Argues for a balanced approach to student identity, rather than privileging native identity over foreign identity. Presents a new version of language placement in the IB Diploma Hexagon, arguing for balance there as well. (Contains 22…

Examines sociolinguistic and historical context in which a dramatic increase in literacy (from 5 percent literacy in 1945 to 75 percent literacy in 1980) occurred in Indonesia, focusing on use of Bahasa Indonesian, the national language, and current efforts to extend literacy through nonformal education programs and to expand reading and writing…

It is possible to provide culturally appropriate education for native Canadian Indian and Inuit children within the framework of the European schooling model by finding a balance between building on the children's native experiences and taking from English language and pedagogy what they can use appropriately in their own culture. (25 references)…

Discusses bilingual students' backgrounds; language use and proficiency at home and school; and students' and parents' reactions to the bilingual program established for the children of Mexican immigrants. (RAE)

Increasingly, in response to demand, colleges are offering Spanish courses for Hispanic-American students with little formal training in their native language. The federal government is providing some support. Courses focus on grammar, spelling, and Hispanic culture. Controversy exists over the kind of Spanish (vernacular vs. standard usage)…

Discussion of the preservation of language and culture in small linguistic societies focuses on Iceland. The history of the Icelandic language is explained, problems with translation from English are described, the use of native languages in education is discussed, and the role of the English language is considered. (LRW)

Explores historical, social, political, linguistic, and pedagogic perspectives on the teaching of Finnish and Swedish as mother tongues in Finland, showing how three successive waves of nationalism have shaped the language curriculum development and policy and proposing a general framework for looking at the development of mother tongue programs…

Discusses how the learning process in first year Spanish can be enhanced by incorporating the game of baseball into the lesson plan. Phonetic improvement, vocabulary building, and reading skill development are explained within the baseball teaching methodology. (GLR)

Traces the recent history of the teaching of Australian Aboriginal language in Walgett (New South Wales), and discusses the possible future of this important issue. Until recently, native Australian languages were frowned upon and were not used publicly. Through funding received for several programs beginning in 1996, there has been a dramatic…

Four Native American tribes have successfully integrated services for children into their child care programs. Two tribes operate child care and Head Start-preschool programs in the same facility. Another tribe runs a child care program with extensive outreach and assistance for families with special needs children. The fourth has a child care…

Explores historical and intellectual causes for the lack of interdisciplinarity between language education and development economics. Reviews three development settings in Bangladesh, Egypt, and Latin America that illustrate the need to devolve responsibility for development and notes language and literacy play a vital role in this process.…

Surveys of 510 Chinese-Canadian adolescents attending 3 Chinese language schools in Calgary (Alberta) found that older immigrant children maintained or developed the native language better than younger ones, and limited teaching hours and insufficient reinforcement for using Chinese outside school hindered development of literacy in Chinese.…

Issues of language, culture, and identity are closely integrated to many Native Americans. These are issues that English language teachers must be be sensitive to and address in their classrooms, especially for those English language learners whose new language and culture threaten their first language and culture. Discusses current views on…

Discusses a new technological means implemented by the Choctaw nation of Oklahoma to teach the Choctaw language. After an initial year of telecourses, an Internet course was introduced that has served 1,000 students at varying levels of intensity. The program has served other goals, such as cultural solidarity and political prestige for he tribal…