This paper examines the rating scale data of oral proficiency tests analyzed by a Rasch Analysis focusing on an item map and factor analysis. In discussing the item map, the difficulty order of six items and students' answering patterns are analyzed using descriptive statistics and measures of central tendency of test scores. The data ranks the…

This regional dossier aims to provide concise, descriptive information and basic educational statistics about minority language education in a specific region of the European Union-- Alsace, a part of France along the German border. Details about the features of the educational system, recent educational policies, divisions of responsibilities,…

This edited volume is a collection of personal accounts, in narrative and interview format, of the formative literacy experiences of highly successful second language users, all of whom are professional academics. Representing 14 countries of origin, the contributors, who are well known specialists in language teaching as well as a variety of…

A notable feature of developing interlanguage grammars is the apparent optionality in those areas of grammar where optionality is not characteristic of stable state grammars. In the Valueless Features Hypothesis, it is proposed that the appearance of apparent optionality in the very early stages of interlanguage development is due to the partial…

This guide was designed to help English-as-a-second-language (ESL) instructors teach work-related language. All the language areas in the guide address communication situations that ESL students would be likely to encounter in the workplace. The guide is divided into departments at the worksite where conversations between non-native English…

The International Baccalaureate (IB), a 2-year diploma program for students aged 16-19, gives access to higher education on a world-wide basis; it also allows for various national education systems. The program is available in English, French, and Spanish. It is supervised by the IB organization, a non-profit educational foundation with…

This book introduces the latest theories about second language acquisition along with tested approaches and practices for use in elementary schools. It is designed for all educators (not only English as a Second Language teachers) who wish to adapt their repertoire of skills to help all students with literacy skills. The 10 chapters are: (1)…

These four volumes of a quarterly newsletter offer a collection of articles on teaching English as a Second Language to refugees. The volumes in this document are: Volume 7, Fall 1999 - Special Edition; Volume 8, Spring 2000; Volume 9, Spring 2000; and Volume 12, Fall 2002. Topics covered in these volumes include: "Fort Dix, NJ: Operation…

This report addresses the extent to which students in Connecticut are receiving world language education that meets the Board's expectations. Data are presented on key world language opportunity-to-learn indicators, such as the following: staffing (e.g., with dramatic increases in enrollments in world languages at all levels, the demand for…

One English-as-a Second-Language professor fought plagiarism using computer assisted language learning (CALL). She succeeded in getting half of her class to write documented research papers free of plagiarism. Although all of the students claimed to know how to avoid plagiarizing, 35 percent presented the work with minor traces of plagiarism. The…

Since 1999, Access to Intercultural Bilingual Education (AIBE) has endeavored to improve the quality of education in the rural department of El Quiche, Guatemala, where most people speak a Mayan language as their first language. AIBE focuses on education at the preschool and primary levels, with emphases on parent participation, bilingual methods,…

First (L1) and second language (L2) composing studies have documented similarities between skilled and unskilled native L1 writers and L2 writers. To date, there have been very few investigations on how bilingual writers attend to audience when composing in two languages. This study reports how four bilingual writers attended to audience in…

The paper examines the learning style preferences of 44 second-year Japanese college students pursuing an undergraduate degree and learning English as a Second Language at a New Zealand college. The goal is to learn more about between style and achievement, and how to cater to such students as multi-dimensional individuals and as members of a…

This toolkit has been developed in an attempt to ensure that limited-English-proficient (LEP) students are provided with fair opportunities to learn that reflect the resources, conditions, and practices they need to achieve higher standards. This framework embraces the concept that local decisions must be made regarding how to best support and…

This lesson plan guide is designed to be used by English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teachers to help their learners deal with new welfare legislation--Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)--and to prepare them for the world of work. Learners at the high beginner to low intermediate level and above will benefit from this instruction. All…