This article focuses on language assessment of LEP (Limited English Proficient) adult students in postsecondary vocational education programs. It discusses such problems as diversity of learners, vocational choices, levels of language proficiency, and language proficiency tests. Also, it suggests a sequence for planning language assessments for…

Reports on the new foreign language requirements at the University of Minnesota. These requirements include establishing entrance standards and strengthening the graduation requirements, both of which are based on language proficiency. Workshops to train teachers in testing under the ACTFL Provisional Proficiency Guidelines are described. (SED)

Examines the effects of age on hearing children's oral rather than written story production and whether there are age-related changes in the signed productions of deaf children comparable to those observed in hearing age-mates. (HOD)

Describes a field test and results of a new didactic teaching method involving resource-based learning to teach various aspects of mathematics and science (fractions, magnetism, planets) to elementary aged hearing impaired student in Iraq. The dramatic improvements in language for learners is described and implications of the methods are…

This study examined the summarizing skills of university students and developed from their protocols a scale for coding replications and distortions of the original. Findings indicate that underprepared students omit more main ideas and include more sentence-level reproductions than mainstreamed students. Data indicated no other significant…

Presents a case study of a bilingual two-year-old, documenting his translation skills between the age of 1 year, 11 months and 2 years, 5 months. Argues that critical insights into child language may be gained through the examination of a child's linguistic abilities in cognitively demanding situations. (SED)

Presents the theory of general language proficiency and looks at the construct validation of cloze tests and C-tests. Describes the defects of classical cloze procedures. Gives an example of the C-Test and discusses its empirical validity. Concludes that C-tests are authentic tests of the construct of general language proficiency.

Describes a study which examined the relationship between age and achievement of adults in an instructional setting. Older (25 to 41) and younger (17 to 24) French-speaking students were compared with respect to short-term development in aural comprehension. Results suggest that achievement rate decreases with increasing age. (SED)

Describes a 24-week language training course designed to help refugees and/or immigrants become better able to obtain and do the work of their occupation, in English. The course stresses written and oral communication with employers, job search techniques, as well as those skills and vocabulary/phrases necessary for filling out job application…

Verbal intelligence, English-language skills, personality, and attitude scales were used as predictors of academic performance in students at the University of Hong Kong. A series of bivariate, multiple, and canonical correlation analyses were performed. Results indicate that verbal intelligence and attitudes, except study orientation, were not…

Examines teaching core French. Proposes engendering national spirit, reassessing university role, adopting businesslike attitudes, undertaking a national research project, pooling publishing expertise, using technology, expanding New Brunswick's testing program, and providing proper teaching conditions. Suggests fluency become basic priority,…

The following variables concerning school-leaving among language minority youth are discussed: background factors, academic achievement, school characteristics, school performance, and school experiences. A combination of socioeconomic disadvantage and early academic failure appear to contribute to the higher dropout rate of language minority…

Examines the relationship between integrative motivation and acquired second language proficiency among Spanish-speaking kindergartners in an American classroom. Results show that the advanced children showed significantly more integrative orientation to the target language group than the beginners, suggesting that integrative attitudes follow…

Argues that problems with English as second language programs in Arab world stem from failures in policy planning, rather than from failures of implementation of these plans. Some crucial considerations previously ignored are sociolinguistic setting of the foreign (English) language and fit between department goals, programs, and curricula on the…

Discusses evolution of task performance assessment technique of the Toronto Office Skills Training Project (TOSTP), a 45-week training program for women from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. Training in office skills, language, and life skills is uniquely integrated in a program designed to enable the women to overcome the obstacles of language…