Reviews four current approaches to play behavior of young children and concludes that using forms of play such as puppets and body action movements to rehearse story content is effective in aiding aural language comprehension and recall in young children. (FL)

Reports that praise and extrinsic reinforcers, such as candy, increased the rate of letter recognition in preschool children and that the increase was partially maintained when the reinforcement was removed. (FL)

A reflective instructional strategy combined with an interdisciplinary approach to current social issues results in enhanced motivation and problem-solving skills. The instructional design utilizes students' intuitive understanding of human behavior to enhance meaningful acquisition, retention, and transfer of social science theory. Empirical…

Describes the value of teaching Standard English to working class adults who, though not illiterate, felt themselves disadvantaged through their poor command of language. Presents case of adult students in Belfast, Northern Ireland, who knew but did not use "public" language, i.e., Standard English, until instruction developed their…

Three aspects of foreign students' resistance to learning English are examined: (1) preconceived ideas of learning and teaching; (2) attitudes to the culture and its effects on the student; (3) effect of the teacher and teaching techniques on motivation. (CHK)

In-depth interviews with nine adults over 50 in a socially disadvantaged area explored their reactions to British government policy on the role of adult education. Government emphasis on vocational relevance and economic motives for lifelong learning did not correlate with their needs, interests, or motivations. Respondents tended toward intrinsic…

Examined a model in which perceptions of autonomy support and informative feedback from teachers sustain generalized feelings of autonomy and competence in language learning Followed up on an earlier study by examining how integrative orientation relates to intrinsic and extrinsic orientations, which in turn support feelings of intrinsic…

Drawing on theories of educational motivation, this study investigated how perceptions of the school psychological environment predict change over time in educational expectations among low-income adolescent mothers. Findings indicated that teenage mothers' perceptions that teachers devalued them intellectually by underestimating their abilities…

Surveyed the make-up of a sample of first- and second-year university-level Spanish learners at a major postsecondary institution in a city with a growing umber of monolingual and bilingual Spanish speakers. Results were used to address questions about learner preparation prior to entering a 4-year university course of study, preferred activities…

Discusses the following factors influencing learning: (1) environment; (2) emotional makeup; (3) persistence; (4) timing of learning; (5) teaching method; (6) cognitive style; (7) food intake; and (8) psychological factors, including the difference between analytical and global thinking. Discusses how to get a sense of one's personal learning…

A study compared students' orientations toward learning Spanish to their orientations toward learning English or French as a second language, and examined other variables, including interethnic attitudes and contact, motivation, self-confidence, and Spanish competence. Results do not permit a clear delineation of a sociomotivational basis for…

Introduces reading research from Great Britain, Sweden, and Australia. Discusses three conclusions from this literature particularly relevant to college reading specialists. (SR)

A survey of 140 adults who were completing requirements for a high school diploma or upgrading their business or academic skills reported past and present barriers to participation in educational programs. In contrast to other research, attitudinal barriers such as lack of self-confidence and lack of previous education were reported more…

A study of college students' motivation for learning, and other social-psychological aspects of second language learning, found students learn German for instrumental, friendship, travel, identification/influence, and knowledge reasons. Fluency was related to motivation, and students of German heritage had higher self-confidence in the German…

Assessed the beliefs of first, third, and fifth graders about their ability and achievement and their motivational responses to challenging puzzles. Suggests that individual differences in children's cognition about ability and achievement are related to their motivational responses throughout the school years. Points out ways that these…