Relates research on second language acquisition (SLA) and research on the language problems of foreign teaching assistants (TAs) and their remediation. SLA research has not yet addressed specific data on the proficiency level needed for effective foreign TAs. Research needs are outlined. (Author/LMO)

In Czechoslovakia and other Eastern European countries, where native English speakers are rare and only limited quantities of English-language literature are available, the English for specific purposes teacher has to be more versatile and be able to accommodate the varying levels of English mastery of students. (CB)

Review of neurolinguistic and psycholinguistic research regarding older (over 40 years of age) second language learners suggests classroom implications for dealing with this population's pronunciation problems and ways to capitalize on their superiority to younger students in terms of higher order linguistic processing. (CB)

Presents findings of a survey of Australian distance education students who were enrolled in foreign language courses in higher education institutions. Distance language teaching and learning are discussed, and highlights of the questionnaire used in the survey include student profiles, course components, facilities and support services, and…

Oral tradition and newness of literacy in Canadian Indian languages create lack of Indian reading materials. Paper examines need for more American Indian-language reading materials for second-language instruction. Suggests Indian literacy programs and other first steps toward producing Native literature. (TES)

Describes a computer-assisted interactive video system designed to improve listening comprehension skills. The courseware makes use of a wide selection HELP OPTIONS as feedback to aid the learner's mastery of authentic natural Korean. (LMO)

Problems of a process approach to English for specific purposes courses for "convergent" academic disciplines are illustrated with an example of science instruction. Course designers must undertake task analysis of the intellectual abilities used in learning activities and relate these to the intellectual abilities of language learners. (Author/CB)

Describes a year-long intercultural exchange program between fifth year Spanish students from a suburban high school and English as a second language students from an inner city junior/senior high school in Rhode Island. Results of the exchange show that attitudes and proficiencies improved for both sets of students. (LMO)

Advises the secondary school teacher lacking special training how to use the ACFL Guidelines to test for oral proficiency in the classroom. Sample situation cards and a sample grading sheet are included. (LMO)

Discussion of computer-assisted language learning highlights a British study with elementary, secondary and university Spanish language students that incorporated speech synthesis and interactive video. The Multifacet Language Laboratory is described, software used is explained, student and teacher reactions are discussed, and a sample of the…

Analysis of responses of native French-speaking (N=10) and English-speaking (N=10) college French instructors rating students' errors in French revealed that (1) native French speakers were more critical evaluators than native English speakers; (2) teachers were generally more critical evaluators than students; and (3) more fluent speakers were…

Dutch native children and Turkish immigrant children, born and reared in the Netherlands, were asked to tell a story from a series of pictures, at age six and again at age eight. The Turkish children exhibited about the same level of narrative proficiency in Dutch as their Dutch peers. (Author/LMO)

Investigates the role of dialect variation in the acquisition of American English by adult second language learners. The study revealed that dialect differences present problems for learners and cause variable intelligibility and negative learner attitude toward some varieties of English and its speakers. This attitude could negatively affect a…

Adult native English speakers (N=20) and foreign students (N=44; most of them Japanese) enrolled in English as a second language (ESL) courses and completed a reading task and a cloze test to determine reading proficiency and prediction ability. While advanced ESL students made fewer total errors than beginning students, error patterns of all ESL…

When college students (N=124) studying French performed a cloze test, translated additional text, and recalled the reading, results indicated that both syntactic and vocabulary proficiency positively affected reading comprehension and recall of text. This supports continued attention to grammar and vocabulary-building exercises for students in…