Analysis of adult learners' reports on comprehension strategies, comprehension level, confidence, and affective response to two authentic Spanish radio broadcasts found gender differences in comprehension strategy use and perceived confidence level, suggesting the need for instruction about the evaluation of strategy effectiveness and about…

Analysis of the effect of providing a graphic representation of knowledge structures to seventh grade students of English as a Second Language found that the teaching strategy, to which students reacted favorably, facilitated comprehension and immediate recall. (42 references) (Author/CB)

Presents critical analysis of an earlier article, and argues that, although the validity of the High/Low distinction is questionable, it is possible for practical testing purposes to obtain reliable judgments from properly selected and trained judges. (seven references) (GLR)

Two groups of nonnative Spanish students and four nonnative English teachers participated in a study of the effect of high cognitive questions on foreign language learning. Results indicate that the use of high cognitive questions can promote the kind of verbal interaction that facilitates comprehension and written production of the foreign…

A literature review of listening comprehension research covers five areas: text characteristics; interlocutor characteristics; task characteristics (variation in listening purpose); listener characteristics; and process characteristics (variation in the listener's cognitive activities and the nature of the speaker/listener interaction). (Contains…

The assignment of listening tasks for students to do while listening to conversational English tapes in a Japanese language lab is described. Students are instructed to create their own visuals. Sample activities and procedures are outlined. (Contains 13 references.) (LB)

English-as-a-Second-Language students participated in an experiment investigating the roles of context on comprehension. Subjects read poems in three contexts; with accompanying picture and title, with title only, and without title or picture. Results indicated that the students focused on literal language and needed additional instruction to make…

Suggests that temporal variables, such as speech rate, and pause and hesitation phenomena, which are studied within the science of pausology, are of direct relevance to second-language research and English language teaching methodology. Examples are given to demonstrate the use of methodology conventions from this specialized area. (81 references)…

A research project undertook to address schema theory applied to the reader's active mental contribution to the act of reading by focusing on the extent to which linguistic, content, and formal schemata types combine in the act of understanding a text in an English-as-a-foreign-language context. Discussion of results notes implications for the…

Tested the hypothesis that accented speech heard at a reduced rate would sound less accented and more comprehensible than speech produced at a normal rate. In two experiments, English native-speaker listeners rated a passage read by 10 high-proficiency Mandarin learners of English. Findings suggest that a general speaking strategy of slowing down…

Investigated use of reading skills by intermediate and advanced learners of Spanish to determine whether performance is uniform across learners and across reading texts. Subjects read two authentic unabridged passages in Spanish and were asked to answer questions based on the skills isolated for the study. The skills were locating details that…

Presents arguments for an emphasis on listening comprehension in language learning and teaching. An explanation of how listeners use strategies to enhance the learning process is presented with a review of the existing research base on how second-language listening is taught. Pedagogical recommendations are presented as well as examples of…

Investigates the effect of cultural background of second-language-readers in different social contexts. Argues that cultural familiarity helps understanding more than the language of the text. Comprehension results are discussed in light of the role of multiculturalism and "melting-pot" policies in shaping minority students' social…

Reemphasizes reading and literature in foreign language education and suggests that computer-enhanced reading instruction holds promise as a means to reintroduce culturally dense texts into the curriculum. (Author/VWL)

Examines what percentage of coverage of text is needed for unassisted reading for pleasure, where learners are able to read without the interruption of looking up words. Looks at the effect of three densities of unknown vocabulary on two measures of reading comprehension, a multiple-choice test and a cued written recall test. (Author/VWL)