This study assessed reading comprehension at different levels of second language learning. Adaptations of Carver's reading tests, a variation of the cloze procedure, were administered to 486 college students enrolled in beginning Spanish courses. Tests were found moderately reliable and were recommended for diagnostic purposes at beginning and…

In October, 1976, a new type of question was introduced into the Victorian HSC German test: A listening comprehension question with multiple-choice answers has replaced the written reproduction question. Results of a computer analysis of the answers given in the exam are reported. (SW)

Presenting minimal pairs in context to the student of English as a foreign language requires him to discriminate between two phonemes that may sound the same. Methodology for student exercises with minimal sentences is presented. (SW)

Reports on the newly devised optional Reading Comprehension Test in the high school graduation examination for Realschulen. Proposes a coordination of learning goals and teaching procedures with the various parts of the test. Offers suggestions for grading. Many examples are given. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

The use of the interview is described as a technique to integrate skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking for students of English as a second language. Coordinated use of these skills is important for natural conversation and language fluency. (CHK)

Listening comprehension of foreign languages is receiving increasing emphasis in language instruction. It is important therefore to consider some divergences between spoken and written language, together with their implications for language learning and teaching. This article analyzes some such differences in French. (CHK)

Examines the listening comprehension of English-as-a-second-language learners by answering the following questions: (1) How do learners acquire information when repeatedly exposed to the same material? and (2) What influence will dictation practice exert on and to what degree is dictation practice related to the acquisition of meaning? (SED)

Discusses a preliminary and sketchy hypothesis of second language comprehension based on empirical investigations into strategies and processes specific to second language comprehension. (Author/CB)

Examination of two "simplified" adaptations of literary texts for less advanced learners of English as a second language found that attempts for lexical and linguistic simplification and linguistic standardization sometimes rendered the texts more difficult to comprehend and resulted in loss of narrative interest. (Author/CB)

Discussion of ways in which second-language learners' processing of and interaction with narrative and expository texts affects their performance on cloze tests suggests that researchers and teachers interpreting these tests should not assume that such tests only assess language ability. (CB)

A study of three different applications of cloze procedure to test reading comprehension in college students of German as a second language suggests that the procedure may not yield a valid or reliable assessment of global comprehension in second-language learning. (Author/MSE)

Describes a study of wait-time (the pause for thinking after questions and answers) for first-year high-school Spanish and French students in both their native and target languages. The average duration of wait-time was 1.91 seconds after questions and .73 seconds after responses. Wait-time was longer after questions in the native language. (SED)

Tests the hypothesis that second language (L2) students' approach to text reflects a top-down processing strategy in contrast to first language (L1) students' approach that is more text-driven. Results confirmed L2 subjects studied the texts less efficiently than L1 subjects. (HOD)

Describes planning, writing, and putting into operation of an intensive course for personnel planning to work in the foreign department of a large commercial bank such as the Credito Italiano. A detailed account is given of compilation of the integrated grading test that is used at the beginning of the course to split up the students into…

Discusses a study of the relative benefits of a year-long reading comprehension course for English as a foreign language students, compared with an intensive summer course using the same curriculum. Students were separated into groups according to their language abilities. Although improvement in both cases was nearly equal, the summer course is…