A study determined which approach for vocabulary development, context or definition, would yield the best results on a teacher-made content area vocabulary test. Two random samples (for a total of 45 students) of fourth graders from a central New Jersey elementary school were formed. One sample was taught 50 social studies vocabulary words using…

A major theoretical issue in the study of language processing and language acquisition is whether language development is independent of other aspects of cognitive development, encapsulated in a "language module." This issue is discussed as it relates to lexical processing. The paper begins with a historical contextualization of the modular view…

A study was conducted to determine whether using the schema method for vocabulary instruction would be significantly greater than using the dictionary method for vocabulary instruction. Subjects were 12 sixth grade students who were divided into two sample groups and received different forms of vocabulary instruction for 10 weeks. Each sample was…

Comprehensive rules, guidelines, and examples are provided for use by ERIC indexers and lexicographers in creating and using Identifiers, and in developing and maintaining the ERIC Identifier file via the "Identifier Authority List (IAL)." Identifiers and the IAL are defined/described: Identifiers are highly specific entities, including…

Computer technology allows students to experiment with word usage and create their own meaningful words. Traditionally, students have acquired new words through reading them in context, analyzing the structure of new words, or using the dictionary. Drills in any of these techniques can be ineffective unless students are actively engaged in the…

This booklet shows parents how to help their children develop a number of strategies for understanding words by working together on a methodical, 12-week program of word study. Sections of the booklet describe the program week by week. The techniques described are: Read and Use Context; Search for Synonyms, Antonyms, Homonyms; Learn Important…

Translators must understand what they translate, but oral language is generally more redundant than written language and the translator need not repeat everything he hears. One method of teaching this skill is to have students sight translate a text in its entirety and then abridge it to its minimum informative content. Abstracting and compressing…

This study explores children's development of dual-level phonological processing posited by generative theory for adult language users. Evidence suggesting 6-year-olds' utilization of morphophonemic segments was obtained by asking children to imitate complex words, omit specified portions, and discuss the meaning of the resulting word-parts. The…

Concludes there was no difference in vocabulary development between a group receiving heavy vocabulary instruction but little tradebook reading and a second group receiving almost no direct teaching of vocabulary but heavy tradebook reading. (RB)

Gives sample sentences showing the connection between grammatical and lexical semantic relationships, which present a complicated set of directions and rules for the learner. Methods are suggested for differentiating by category the meanings of ambiguous words. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

The author discusses the advantages and the disadvantages of being a non-native teacher of English. The requirements of a successful teacher of English are a thorough knowledge of the language and a mastery of teaching skills. (CJ)

Describes, using Teaching Unit 7 (Grade 9), the teacher's work in planning and preparing, as well as the designing of the instruction using teaching-aid units. Examples: teaching vocabulary, the development of speaking in dialogue, and teaching grammar. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Five computer programs for the Macintosh that are geared for Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) are described. All five programs allow the teacher to input material. The first program allows entry of new vocabulary lists including definition, a sentence in which the exact word is used, a fill-in-the-blank exercise, and the word's phonetics…

There are many reasons for teachers' reluctance to address the issue of spelling content area vocabulary words; however, content vocabulary word spelling need not be ignored because of time constraints, boredom, or lack of knowledge on the teacher's part any longer. A method which can be utilized is an adaption of "Scratch, Scribble and…

"Correct English," published continuously between 1899 and 1950, was dedicated to the preservation of "proper" English usage. Josephine Turck Baker, editor and founder, understood that conventions of grammar arose from usage. It was her opinion that correctness was determined by clarity, not by the rules of Latin syntax. Thus,…