Research on the effectiveness of short-term study-abroad (SA) programs for improving oral skills has shown mixed results. In this study, 24 L2 German learners (L1 English) provided pre- and post-SA speech samples addressing a hypothetical situation and completed surveys on cross-cultural interest and adaptability; L2 communication affect,…

Uses U.S. Census data to examine immigrants' and natives' English language skills. Lack of fluency is rare among native-born Americans. Most immigrants speak English well. Since the 1950s, fluency among new immigrants has declined each year. Additional years of U.S. residency and additional years of schooling tend to increase fluency. Women are…

This paper describes the development of materials to test English language skills and discusses some of the procedures and rationale which were employed in that development. The materials were designed for use in the New Canadian Study (1967-68), which was concerned primarily with the school success of students who learned English as a second…