The present study investigates the effect of high variability phonetic training (HVPT) on the discrimination of second language (L2) vowel contrasts by adult speakers who live in a country where the L2 is dominant. The same subjects who participated in a previous discrimination task were trained in the discrimination of four L2 vowel contrasts…

It is often assumed that cross-linguistically more prevalent distinctions are easier to learn potentially due to their conceptual naturalness. Prior work supports this hypothesis in phonology, morphology and syntax but has not addressed semantics. This work aims to unravel the potential factors that contribute to the learnability and the…

This paper provides an overview of the theories on the organization and development of L1 mental lexicon and the representation mode of bilingual mental lexicon. It analyzes the structure and characteristics of Chinese EFL learners and their problems in English vocabulary acquisition. On the basis of this, it suggests that English vocabulary…

Interlanguage fossilization is a crucial dilemma that foreign language learners may fall in. The problem of the present study is shown clearly in the answers of Iraqi students of Master of Arts in the College of Education for Women University of Baghdad. In spite of all the previous years of studying English language, some still have the problem…

This study reports evidence of cross-linguistic influence (CLI) that surfaced from English compositions of SiSwati learners of English in Swaziland, where English is a second language. Although CLI has been studied widely in other languages, it has not been studied in SiSwati and English, and its implications for instruction are not known.…

This paper compares explicit instruction in second-language Spanish with a control treatment on a written picture description task and a timed auditory grammaticality judgment task. Participants came from two intact, third-year US high school classes, with one experiencing a week of communicative lessons on the Spanish clitic "se"…

A controversial issue in bilingual research is whether in the early stages of L2 learning, access to the conceptual system involves mediation of L1 lexical representations [Kroll, J. F., & Stewart, E. (1994). Category interference in translation and picture naming: Evidence for asymmetric connections between bilingual memory representations.…

The utility of the second language French children choose to learn is questioned. Some language teaching approaches are reviewed, and it is shown that a mere learning of rules is not sufficient but that sociological and psychological factors contribute to the comprehension and structure of sentences. (Text is in French.) (TL)

Describes process involved in learning and procedures used in teaching an element of grammar, using Russian gender as an example. (RM)

Discusses the influence of modern linguistic research on foreign language instruction. Shows the role of grammar 1 in the acquisition of grammar 2, and specifically when French is 1 and English is 2. Considers that conscious, systematic knowledge of L2, learned through L1, is positive for second language acquisition. (Text is in French.) (TL)

Behaviorist/structuralist language teachers and theoreticians are beginning to pay attention to contributions from contemporary linguists, psychologists, and educators. This paper draws attention to an obvious, but not often considered, point of interest to all who are engaged in formal language instruction and in related fields. Classroom…

After a discussion of cognitive schemata, identified as representing a "gestalt" stored in human memory, this paper explores three pedagogical modes: the use of drama, humor, and suspense in the classroom. Ways that each pertain to cognitive and communication theory are discussed, and classroom examples of how each mode provides…

The origins of error analysis as a pedagogical tool can be traced to the beginnings of the notion of interference and the use of contrastive analysis (CA) to predict learners' errors. With the focus narrowing to actual errors committed by students, it was found that all learners of English as a second language seemed to make errors in the same…

BECAUSE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION FOR A CHILD IS AN UNCONSCIOUS PROCESS, FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION IN THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM SHOULD AVOID "CONSCIOUS" LEARNING PROCEDURES AND STRIVE FOR A NATURAL SITUATION. LANGUAGE ACQUISITION FOR AN ADULT IS AN ARTIFICIAL, CONSCIOUS PROCESS, HOWEVER, AND NECESSITATES DIFFERENT TEACHING METHODS AND…