Looks at how English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL). teachers might choose some aspects of second language acquisition research to apply in an adult ESL class and what information might be found in ESL textbooks to help. The method incorporates second language acquisition (SLA) research in a communicative classroom. (Author/VWL)

Argues that in the initial stages of learning a new form in a foreign language and its associated functions, communicative needs and learning needs are fundamentally opposed. Suggests that what is needed is an orientation to language that is based on prior familiarity with specific forms and meaning that can be used in discourse as anchors to…

This study of first language Russian children acquiring English as a Second Language investigates the reasons behind omission of verbal inflection in second language (L2) acquisition and argues for presence of functional categories in second language grammar. Shows that child L2 learners, while omitting inflection, almost never produce incorrect…

Employs a truth-value task to reexamine native-language (NL) transfer among Chinese-speaking second-language (L2) learners of English--that is, where NL or mature L2 permits verb raising. Discussion includes a comparison with the earlier findings of Eubank and Grace (1996) and analysis of developmental and transfer-based explanations for the…

Explores recent developments in the use of computers in language testing in four areas: (1) item banking; (2) computer-assisted language testing; (3) computerized-adaptive language testing; and (4) research on the effectiveness of computers in language testing. Examines educational measurement literature in an attempt to forecast the directions…

First-language (L1) reading research has had a major impact on second language (L2) reading research. There was a substantial lag, however, before these L1 theories were adapted and proposed for L2 reading. This article introduces the L2 researcher to the relevant and current L1 test comprehension issues and theories to help close this gap.…

Reviews developments in language testing research and practice over the last 20 years, and suggests future directions in the areas of professionalizing the field and validation research. Argues that concerns for ethical conduct must be grounded in valid test use, so that professionalization and validation research are inseparable. (Author/VWL)

Inconclusive evidence that second-language learners understand a foreign language better than they speak it led to a study of the comprehension of native and nonnative speakers. Results indicated that second-language learners speak better than they understand. The paper discusses three conditions for learning: overt activity, emotional…

Investigated pragmatic aspects of task-performance in a series of argumentation tasks that Hungarian learners of English performed over a period of 2 years. Sought to determine how task repetition, long-term development of language skills, and a short-term focused intervention influenced various pragmatic measures of task performance. (Author/VWL)

Describes the processes of curriculum and teacher development that follow an evaluation of a British University English for academic purposes program. (Author/VWL)

Outlines challenges that arose in the course of a classroom-based research project, identifies the realities of the second language setting that contributed to these complexities, and examines useful sources of support available to novice investigators. Oral communication tasks were administered to three groups of English learners in Canada: a…

While resumptive pronouns (RPs) are generally not allowed in English relative clauses, Chinese allows the use of RPs in indirect object position and genitive position but not in subject and direct object positions. Arabic languages allow RPs in direct object position as well as in indirect object position and genitive position, although not in…

The use of bilingual graphic organizers (bilingual knowledge maps [BiK maps]) as a presentation format was investigated for the acquisition of foreign language vocabulary. Participants were assigned to 1 of 4 conditions for the task of studying 32 German-English word pairs. Participants in each condition were trained on either lists or BiK maps…

The increasing number of English language learners (ELLs) in U.S. schools requires rethinking teacher education (TE). Most teachers have received little preparation in how to educate ELLs. Change in TE programs is needed to ensure that TE students are prepared to teach ELLs. Such change begins by educating TE faculty first. One catalyst for…

The fact that early lexical and grammatical acquisition are strongly correlated has been cited as evidence against the view that the language faculty is composed of dissociable and autonomous modules (Bates & Goodman, 1997). However, previous studies have not yet eliminated the possibility that lexical-grammar associations may be attributable to…