Argues that the increasing number of non-specialist students of French in British universities requires an investigation of the adequacy of "general purpose" syllabi, grammars, and methodologies. Suggests that the effective design of syllabi and methodologies for specific purposes students is enhanced through detailed analysis of a…

Investigated the cultural identity of the second generation of a group of recent Hmong immigrants to the United States to determine the relationships among acculturation, ethnic identity, second-language acquisition, native language maintenance, self-esteem, and academic success. (JL)

Focuses on model for implementing a primary language program in Australia. Parameters of this model were: an intensive beginners' course introduced at year 5 level; the language program be part of the mainstream curriculum and be allocated at least six hours per week; the language taught be Indonesian or French; and a maintenance program of at…

Discusses a graduate course that prepares language teachers by emphasizing ways to tailor instruction to learners' needs and demonstrates multiple forms of collaboration. Course participants discuss their collaborative learning experiences and their expectations for using such approaches in their own teaching. (14 references) (Author/CK)

Examines bias in Australian school examinations as it affects learners of languages other than English from different primary language backgrounds. Argues that the determination of whether tests are biased depends on how the test construct is defined and on whom is defining it. This issue is discussed within the context of a plan to compensate…

Discusses the implications of the tendency of adult second-language learners to develop a well-structured, simple form of language outside the classroom, i.e. the Basic Variety (BV). Focuses on the structural properties of the BV, the status of these properties and the reasons why some structural properties of "fully fledged" languages are more…

Best predictors of overall proficiency in a foreign language were examined in two experiments involving 60 high school female students in a private school and 36 10th graders in a coeducational public school. Best predictors were grade at the end of one year of study of the language and foreign language word decoding. (SLD)

Presents a quasi-experimental study conducted among younger immersion students that focused on determining whether an area of French vocabulary identified as problematic for these students can be successfully learned via increased exposure to such vocabulary in interesting reading material supplemented with associated analytic language activities.…

Examines whether computer networks can empower second-language learners, focusing on three aspects: autonomy, equality, and learning skills. The article concludes that these networks, appropriately used, can empower students, and provides pedagogical suggestions for effective computer networking in the second- and foreign-language classroom. (66…

Reviews literature on second-language instruction to determine the rationale for the design and implementation of computer software in the field. Findings indicate a need for more software that engages learners in communicative task-based activities and is based on current learning theory. (118 references) (CK)

Reports on a classroom-based, longitudinal study of the effect of learner strategy instruction on listening comprehension. The hypothesis that systematic instruction in the use of strategies will result in the improvement of listening comprehension was confirmed. (Author/JL)

Discusses the notion of personal response, which is a method in English-language teaching that aims to elicit learner production of discourse in the target language. The article distinguishes between reader-response and personal response approaches and demonstrates how the inclusion of reader response in literature-based communicative language…

Language awareness, integral to language education in Europe, now influences Canadian second-language programs. The General Language Education (GLE) Syllabus of the "National Core French Study" endeavors to foster language proficiency and tolerance of linguistic and cultural diversity and encourages students to develop their own learning…

Explored the relationship of similarity, dissimilarity, and markedness to second language, specifically English, phonological acquisition. The article hypothesized that the rate of acquisition for a dissimilar phenomenon is faster than for a similar phenomenon. Findings revealed that degree of markedness can increase or decrease rate. (38…

Describes the implementation and evaluation of the second year of a three-year pilot project to teach Japanese to students at a Pittsburgh elementary school. Analyses of students' performance indicate that they progressed considerably in developing proficiency in Japanese and that their teachers believed that more could be done to incorporate the…