This article looks at the use of art in developing students' prewriting ability. The activities, strategies, and objects used provide students with the background knowledge, motivation, vocabulary, structure, and fluency they need to compose and rehearse written pieces. The article describes research conducted on the effects of combining art with…

AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN BASE RATES IN LANGUAGE USAGE OF CHILDREN AND TO INVESTIGATE THEIR PSYCHOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE. SPECIFICALLY THE STUDY WAS AIMED AT DISCOVERING WHETHER THE FINDINGS OF G.K. ZIPF (1965) HELD FOR SPOKEN LANGUAGE OF CHILDREN AND WHETHER AGE DIFFERENCES INFLUENCED THE RELATIONSHIP OF VARIETY AND FREQUENCY OF WORD…

THE DOCUMENT CONTAINS TWO SPEECHES--ONE ON TEACHING ENGLISH TO INDIAN STUDENTS AND THE OTHER ON A TECHNIQUE FOR TEACHING SCIENCE. THE FIRST DISCUSSES THE PHONOLOGY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, LEARNING THEORIES, VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT, AND INDIAN STUDENTS' LANGUAGE FLUENCY. THE SECOND DISCUSSES VOCABULARY PROBLEMS INVOLVED WITH TEACHING SCIENCE TO…

Despite individual differences, all bilinguals share the ability to act in their native language, in their second language, and to switch back and forth between the two languages they know (Van Hell, 1998). Chinese is the largest Asian American ethnic group in the United States. Their use of code-switching is an increasingly important issue in…

In a study of second, fourth, and sixth graders who completed reading and language tests over 2 years, low-income second and third graders achieved as well as their normative peers on all subtests. However, around fourth grade, their reading scores began to decline. One possible cause for this slump may stem from lack of fluency and automaticity.…

Describes two experiments that examined the acquisition of second language lexical fluency. Considers the implications of these results for models of the developing lexicon. (Author/VWL)

Vocabulary grouped according to subject matter is well-adapted to developing speaking competence. Even in the use of blackboard pictures for teaching vocabulary, systematic aspects should be observed. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Some general views on language teaching and language programs are expressed. Listening and reading comprehension, the receptive skills, and speaking and writing, the productive skills, are discussed. (SC)

The objective of this activity is to help beginning students learn numbers and practice vocabulary and verbs in an interesting and meaningful way. In addition, the game is used to improve their listening comprehension and speaking ability. (Author/CK)

Examines the reliability, validity, and sensitivity of experimental measures developed to assess three areas of early literacy: phonological awareness, vocabulary development, and fluency in letter naming. Results indicate which measures display adequate psychometric properties for kindergartners not yet reading. Experimental measures were less…

Describes how the difficulty of German has been exaggerated and discusses certain supposed problems facing English speakers in the mastering of German vocabulary. The idea that technical vocabulary of native German origin presents a serious obstacle to native English speakers arises from an erroneous view of German as a "pure" Germanic…

Criticizes the circumstance that limits the opportunity for students to speak French in casual conversation to an extent that would permit them to truly improve their command of the language. The article maintains that giving students the opportunity to develop on their own the ability to express themselves orally is a valuable teaching goal.…

Supports Krashen's theory on the benefits of free voluntary reading and the impact pleasure reading makes on results of the Teaching of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test. The improved TOEFL scores indicate a measurable and viable result of reading for pleasure as well as an intangible attitudinal change on the part of the students. (10…

Explores the relative contributions of global vocabulary and specific attribute knowledge to the metaphorical comprehension of fluent and less fluent adult users of English. Results indicate that, for both groups, specific attribute knowledge was a better predictor of metaphorical interpretation than global vocabulary knowledge. (Author/CB)

Reports on the visit to Japan of a 60-year-old man who had last been there over 40 years ago. Relates several amusing anecdotes about language fluency and Japanese customs, mostly based on the changes a language undergoes in the passage of many years and the importance of an up-to-date vocabulary. (NKA)