Language learning is not maximally efficient without intentional practice following tests that evaluate student achievement of an instructional objective. Post-evaluation practice must be at increasing intervals to maximize student retention, and must sometimes be unscheduled, to achieve automatic language usage. A distribution schedule and types…

Considers pragmatic competence and misinterpretations in foreign-language use. Findings indicate that too many language teachers are still clinging to prescriptive views of language use. Practitioners should reevaluate the ways students' use of the language adds to its wealth and scope. (CB)

Uses a quantified version of a syntactic acquisition hierarchy to compare syntactic development in second language learners to that of other components of grammar, particularly inflectional morphology. (CB)

Critically examines the notion of a "natural" acquisition of language, explores current language theories regarding second-language acquisition theories and language education, and argues that the "naturalization" of achievement as ability works to deny certain students access to the evaluation criteria on which their access to further education…

It is argued that, contrary to some theories, there can be considerable creativity and thought brought to the use of a second language. Examples are drawn from authors who have made full use of the stylistic resources of their second languages. (MSE)

Observing that foreign learners of English rarely use question tags in normal conversation, whereas native speakers of English make great use of them, the article recommends greater attention to question tags in teaching English as a foreign language. (IFS/WGA)

Problems and proper usage of German locative prepositions "an,""auf,""in,""nach," and "zu" are discussed. (CHK)

This paper asserts that uses of a tongue other than one's own can reveal unexpected ways of dealing with the cross-cultural clashes that second language learners encounter as they migrate between languages. It notes that learners' appropriation of foreign languages enables them to construct linguistic and cultural identities in the interstices of…

Presidential address presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, Mexico City, Mexico, August 10, 1973. (SK)

Investigates the concept of politeness as perceived by native speakers and advanced learners of English. Results indicate that the learner's ability to judge politeness in the target language does not necessarily mean s/he can use politeness strategies correctly in actual communication situations. (EKN)

Proposes that communication strategies describe the learners' pattern of using what they know as they try to communicate with speakers of the largest language, and that communication strategies have an interactional function. Specific criteria are suggested for defining the notion of communication strategy as distinguished from learning and…

Discusses the relationship between sociolinguistic theory and research, and its application to second language teaching. (Text is in French.) (CLK)

Explains Spanish pronominalization as one simple process, and notes its application the teaching and learning of Spanish. (CHK)

Responds to an Ellis (2002), which focuses on frequency in language processing, language use, and language acquisition, Emphasizes the importance of placing frequency in an overarching theoretical framework of language acquisition. (Author/VWL)