The complexity of pluralism in this country makes it difficult for the educator to develop expectations of students based on their group memberships. This text examines these group memberships and ways educators can develop educational programs to meet the needs of those groups and the nation. The book provides an overview of the different…

A study investigated the content and predictive validity of Hong Kong's new Use of English Examination (UEE), introduced by the Hong Kong Examinations Authority in 1989. The study set out to discover whether the examination was reliable for determining students' language needs on entering higher education, and whether institutions' existing…

Discussion of multilingual education looks at three European models, each designed for a different population, and compares them with the Canadian immersion model. The models are: (1) trilingual education applied to the entire school population of Luxembourg; (2) multilingual education in the nine-institution, five-city European School network,…

As students with limited proficiency in English transition from English-as-a-Second-Language or bilingual education classes to mainstream classes, they are usually first enrolled in physical education, art, and music classes, and then math or science classes. Later, these students are placed in the more challenging mainstream social studies…

This study examines the relationship between proficient bilingualism or biliteracy (proficiency in reading and writing in both Spanish and English) and the self-esteem of Mexican American students. The concept of proficient bilingualism has not been widely used to examine bilingual education's noncognitive functions, in particular its effect on…

Despite complaints from undergraduate students concerning language and pedagogical skills of international teaching assistants (ITAs), institutions of higher education continue to appoint ITAs to teach. Legislative mandates have appeared to assess and improve language and pedagogical skills of ITAs, and the academies have likewise responded with…

This digest summarizes a longer document with the same title that discusses the problem of using, training, and assessing international teaching assistants (ITAs) in undergraduate education. Legislative mandates have appeared to assess and improve language and pedagogical skills of ITAs, and academies have likewise responded with workshops and…

A study investigated the possible relationships among situation-specific affective variables, motivational-attitudinal variables, and level of language learning in 70 students who were enrolled in a series of beginning Japanese language courses at the university level. Variables investigated included language class risk-taking, language class…

The Innovative Approaches Research Project (IARP) develops instructional models for language minority students. The project focuses on dropout prevention, instruction of exceptional students, math and science instruction, and literacy. IARP implemented four model programs: (1) Partners for Valued Youth: Dropout Prevention Strategies for At-Risk…

This paper presents an assessment of teacher training models in a multi-year (1984-1989) early childhood computer literacy program conducted in a bilingual setting. The project was known by the acronym CLIC and focused on the needs of poor Hispanic children in the El Paso (Texas) urban school district. Although CLIC was a computer literacy…

The Polish instructional materials in this volume are designed to accompany the "Reading Authentic Polish" workbooks. Their purpose is to familiarize students, in the classroom or through independent study, with spoken Polish in real-life situations. All materials were taken from Polish radio and television in 1991-92, a period of rapid…

An evaluative study in New York (New York) comprehensive half-day public school prekindergarten programs serving language minorities is reported. The study investigated effectiveness of city policy supporting the use of the children's native (home) languages for some portions of instruction. Information was gathered on: (1) supervisory staff's…

A discussion of trends and progress in language testing looks at movement in the field since 1980, based on the themes and content of national and international conferences; trends in test content, method, and analysis; and work on the nature of proficiency and of language learning. It is proposed that movement evidenced by conferences is largely…

A study investigated: (1) the average language proficiency level as determined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) attained by 271 college seniors majoring in 6 languages (Spanish, French, Russian, German, Japanese, Italian); (2) current and projected uses of the ACTFL OPI by…

This paper discusses the development of a criterion-referenced assessment measure for both written English and American Sign Language (ASL) that can be used with deaf elementary through secondary students. The measure is presented as well as the results of a trial use. Developed by the Cleary School for the Deaf, the Cleary Language Assessment…