Presents a procedural model for discretely testing several of the multiple ways second-language readers comprehend and express themselves about the content and implications of reading passages, reviewing existing measures, illustrating the procedural model, discussing ways to scale the procedural item, and summarizing the practical advantages of…

In this work, prominent authorities review the latest research on all aspects of ELL instruction (K-12) and identify what works for today's students and schools. Provided are best-practice guidelines for targeting reading, writing, oral language, vocabulary, content-domain literacies, and other core skill areas; assessing culturally and…

This final report describes a project in which videotapes of secondary school students performing linguistic and communicative tasks at various levels of French and Spanish instruction were produced. The videotapes are intended to illustrate levels of foreign language acquisition to language teachers. High achieving students were filmed after 2,…

The decision of parents whose native language is English to raise their child bilingually prompted a review of the literature concerning approaches to fostering infant bilingualism. The review focuses on (1) language strategies most often adopted by the bilingual family, such as dichotomy and alteration; (2) other family variables; (3) the…

This handbook for teachers is intended as a practical aid in creating an effective program of selling foreign language (FL) study to students, parents, counselors, administrators, and the community as a whole. The six sections into which it is divided correspond to the following aspects of a public relations (PR) program: purpose, profits,…

The procedure for planning an international dinner to raise funds and publicize foreign language study is described. The project, which netted several hundred dollars for a high school in North Dakota, involves careful planning over a period of months. Publicity and facilities are discussed, and the various culinary and other jobs to be…

The autonomous language learner takes responsibility for the totality of his learning situation. He does this by determining his own objectives, defining the contents to be learned and the progression of the course, selecting methods and techniques to be used, monitoring this procedure, and evaluating what he has acquired. Objectives are specific…

Briefly reviews prior use of the thinking aloud method. Advantages of this method are contrasted to other techniques of the studying the research process. Suggestions include (1) choosing subjects and reading materials; (2) planning, preparing, and training subjects for thinking aloud sessions; and (3) recording, transcribing, and analyzing data.…

Presents the 1986 proficiency guidelines for Russian developed by the American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages. The guidelines cover speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills for the levels of novice, intermediate, advanced, and superior. (CB)

Proposes several guidelines for the communicative exploitation of translation with advanced foreign language learners at the tertiary level and suggests that the communicative basis for the use of translation as a language teaching technique is derived from the communicative nature of translation as a professional activity. (Author/CB)

The author examines adjustment problems of Southeast Asian refugees in the U.S., noting conflict with their traditional orientation to learning and linguistic difficulties in acquiring English. Seven guidelines are offered for teaching, including an emphasis on survival skills and vocabulary and grammar rather than on pronunciation. (CL)

Examines foreign attitudes toward Chinese learning methods in the light of a course taught in China. Argues that there are a number of historical, psychological, and pedagogical reasons for the Chinese learning methods and that these methods are not necessarily unworkable alongside modern English-as-a-foreign-language teaching methods. (SED)

The paper considers factors other than poor reading ability which may account for poor test scores of potentially gifted Hispanic bilingual students. It examines the nature of second language learning and its relation to language processing required by a reading test and the strategies of bright bilingual children which may negatively affect test…

Uses Papua New Guinea students at the University of Technology to show the problem of shifting from oral to written forms in third world ESL countries. Gives examples of informal use of written English using too much slang contrasted with overly formal English. (BK)

A preliminary set of principles of judging the pedagogical utility of proposed grammar rules is offered. The goal is the inclusion in teaching materials of only those rules which are linguistically accurate, pedagogically sound, and relevant to specified instructional objectives. (Author)