The major purpose of this study was to test how preliterate learners use illustrations in storybooks to understand a story. Subjects were 23 five-year-old low-SES children, learning Dutch as a second language. Each child was exposed four times to a digital picture storybook. Five books were used and counterbalanced over children and repetitions.…

The ways that children and adults use their limited cognitive processes in comprehending the complex input of a second language are discussed, and an information-processing approach to second-language learning is proposed and supported in a number of areas of second language research. Implications for research and teaching are examined. (MSE)

Synthesizing theoretical and empirical insights from second-language acquisition, cognitive psychology, information processing, schema theory, and parallel distributed processing, this paper proposes an interactive framework of intake processes. It identifies intake factors and intake processes and argues that these factors and processes…

Discusses the question of aptitude from within an information-processing perspective, examines how aptitude is conceptualized in this framework, and discusses one possible component of L2 aptitude: working memory. (56 references) (Author/CK)

Questions whether observed differences in use of strategy of monitoring is related to the following cognitive styles: field independence, reflection, flexible control, and preference for processing information by the written word. Field independence was positively related to amount of monitoring on all written tasks, and reflection was weakly but…

Describes the concept of "hypermedia," by which readers select and link segments of text, audio, video, or other media in a way that helps them to explore and understand information. A case is made for the use of "hypermedia" in helping students learn and understand language through its provision of massive doses of…

Information sequencing in complex sentences, discourse, and text in modern standard Chinese (MSC) is the modifying-modified sequence. This principle contrasts with English, where main information appears at the beginning of the speech acts of requests. The contribution of this difference to cross-cultural misunderstanding is described. (Contains…

A study among college students investigated the effects on the developing knowledge system of the second-language learner of two different types of instruction: instruction as manipulation of output, and as structured or focused input processing. Results support the input-processing perspective and the salience of the role of input. (43…

Presents the rationale behind a model for the use of the computer in the development of reading comprehension. Basic assumptions concerning reading are delineated. The model has three basic components: intake (text processing and text comprehension), personalization, and extension. (Author/SED)

Presents an update on a university's articulation work. The university aimed at collaboration in specifying the skills and knowledge expected of elementary and secondary students, motivating these students for higher education, setting standards and providing feedback to school districts. Progress in articulation is slow but discernible. (seven…

A study used factor analysis to categorize and describe learning strategies in 1,200 university students. Results are reported from the perspectives of information processing theory and social psychology, and specific implications for classroom practice are discussed. (44 references) (MSE)

This study investigated whether top-down or bottom-up cognitive processing was more important in listening comprehension in large-scale English-as-a-Second-Language tests administered to secondary school students in Hong Kong over a period of seven years. Results suggest that bottom-up processing was more important than top-down processing in…

Some of the problems facing undergraduates learning Russian can be dealt with effectively by using an online computer. A Russian numerals drill program (RUNEX) is described which aims to help the student in tackling the morphological arbitrariness and some aspects of the syntax of the Russian numerals. Paradigms are given for the numerals five,…

The ability of the computer to generate output not included in the input may be used for linguistic as well as for computational input. The ability to accept linguistic data and process it according to a certain program seems to be a promising field for investigation. Progress in this field may strengthen the assumption that the computer can be…

This article examines language learner strategy use reported by 121 Chinese learners of English through a questionnaire and the relationships between their strategy use and language performance on a national English proficiency test: College English Test-Band 4. Results showed that this group of learners reported using more metacognitive…