Spanish and English versions of an oral proficiency test were administered to Spanish-surnamed pupils at grade levels K, one, three and five in a bilingual education program. The results indicated that achievement in English appears to be unrelated to the maintenance of Spanish for bilingual children. (Author/ND)

The pervasive notion of communicative competence has all too often been translated in terms of an instructional goal as minimum communicative competence. The second language learner who is actually preparing to function at a relatively high level of sophistication in the target language culture is not benefitted by reliance on paralinguistic…

This study investigated the development of language proficiency of 83 foreign students of English as a second language who were living in English-speaking American homes during their 14-week intensive formal language program. Statistical comparison with non-homestay students revealed that homestay students achieved significantly higher course…

The French gender usage of grade two and grade five Franco-Ontarian children was compared with that of English-speaking children enrolled in French immersion programs, and monolingual French-speaking children in Quebec. While some of the Franco-Ontarian children are similar to the Quebec children with respect to the gender "rules" they…

This text contains 62 lessons in Hausa for the student of Hausa as a second Language. The principal emphasis of the lessons is in developing skills in the spoken language, and study is preferable with a native speaker of Hausa. The use of English is to be avoided except when absolutely necessary. Because of the attention given to oral skills, the…

COLLABORATION OF THE MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION (MLA) AND THE EDUCATIONAL TESTING SERVICE PRODUCED STANDARDIZED TESTS FOR LANGUAGE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS IN THE FIVE MOST COMMONLY TAUGHT LANGUAGES--FRENCH, RUSSIAN, ITALIAN, GERMAN, AND SPANISH. STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT IN THE LISTENING, SPEAKING, READING, AND WRITING SKILLS IS MEASURED BY THE MLA…

This paper investigates the difference in achievement among 20 University of Utah students of modern standard Arabic. One group of 11 students followed an intensive eight-week summer course, and a second group of nine students studied the same course during a regular academic year. Also reported on is the correlation between achievement and…

This text contains 65 lessons in Twi for the student of Twi as a second language. The principal emphasis of the lessons is in developing skills in the spoken language, and study is preferable with a native speaker of the language. The use of English is to be avoided except when absolutely necessary. Because of the attention given to oral skills,…

The purpose of the report is to explain why so many different types of people in so many different parts of the country need languages in their work, and why students planning their education in preparation for certain kinds of careers should be aware of these needs. The focus is mainly on language as an auxiliary skill, on the careers in which…

This study focuses on the consequences of immersion experience as a means of developing second language skills. The students involved are 13 to 14 years of age, finishing grade 7 in the public school system. Two forms of immersion are compared, "early" and "late." Early immersion means that students had followed an immersion…

Reviews research findings as they relate to the acquisition of reading skills (in the first and second language) by majority-group school children participating in early immersion programs. (Author)

Finds that text material in final (end-of-school) French oral examinations in Germany do not correspond with the accomplishment to be expected of the students, in both appropriateness and degree of difficulty. Offers criteria, sample texts, and suggestions regarding reasonable requirements. (IFS/WGA)

The longitudinal pilot study described here shows that immigrant children, trained prior to school entry and untrained, have great difficulties in language, though the groups are better able to cope. Results suggest some support for the assumption about the importance of the first language in the acquisition of the second. (Author/HP)

Quotes passages from the publication "Mock Examination," showing test samples from sections of the new People's University Certificate Examination in English. The sections are on listening comprehension, oral production, reading comprehension, letter writing, structures, and vocabulary, which show differences from the traditional examination.…