More than 1,500 high school foreign language students were tested for comprehension of authentic texts. First- through fifth-year French, German, and Spanish students read texts of the types mentioned in the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines at the intermediate and intermediate high levels. All students captured some meaning from each of the texts.…

Assessment of fourth-year pupils in two neighboring London schools (one grammar, one comprehensive) over a full academic year indicated that student attitudes, motivation, and proficiency, often influenced by placement in ability groups, significantly affected second-language learning. (Author/CB)

Presents the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language's language proficiency guidelines for Japanese, encompassing speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills for novice, intermediate, and advanced learners. (CB)

Describes a conversation measure for evaluation communicative competence of deaf adolescents and adults in light of: 1) the rationale behind its development; 2) its independence of the subjects' language variety; and 3)its use in a study of 40 deaf adolescents. The interview protocal is give in the Appendix. (Author/LMO)

Native speakers (N=10), comprehension class students (N=10), traditionally instructed students (N=10), and controls (N=10) were evaluated for quality of German accent. While native speakers most frequently received excellent ratings, students in the comprehension class (which featured immersion techniques) were rated higher than traditionally…

A review of research on foreign language proficiency, constraints of language learning, and constraints of the learner suggests that current oral language proficiency standards and tests are more helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of a foreign language program than in evaluating the achievement of individual students. (CB)

Describes a study of teachers' priorities as a step in analyzing their compatibility with the focus on proficiency in modern language education. The study shows an overall compatibility of attitudes of the surveyed teachers with the notion of oral proficiency as the principle in modern language teaching. (SED)

Describes development of a learning module for students studying foreign languages, which usually depicts social behavior between the foreign language nationals to teach communicative competence in face-to-face interactions between nationals and students. Marketing of the module, which was first produced on videotape and later on interactive…

Reports on a study of the influence of cognitive/affective variables on the second language learning ability of adults. Two variables, field independence and ambiguity tolerance, were found to be significant predictors of English as a second language proficiency for international students studying in the United States. (SED)

Presents a broad overview of Australia's diverse immigrant population, with focus placed on the work experiences of females. Analyzes census data to describe the following characteristics more specifically: education, English proficiency, labor force involvement, occupational niche, unemployment, entrepreneurship, and income. Reports that, with a…

The objectives, construction, and use of the lowest and most general test of the Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Paris series of business French proficiency tests are outlined, and the centers authorized to administer the test in the United States are listed. (MSE)

A study of the effects of four methods of correcting free writing assignments in college German is reported. Results indicate student progress is enhanced by writing practice alone. Corrections did not increase writing accuracy, writing fluency, or general language proficiency, and may have a negative effect on student attitudes. (MSE)

Discusses foreign language testing methods, particularly of receptive skills, and how the choice of method for any particular government agency is subject to the constraints imposed by the following factors: (1) method of correction, (2) ease of production and number of exam versions required, (3) content of the test, and (4) administration of the…

State and federal laws mandate that local educational agencies equip students who have limited English proficiency with the English language skills necessary to succeed in all academic content areas. In efforts to comply with both state and federal law, the Arizona State Department of Education (ADE) has developed a mechanism to identify, assess,…

Watching while listening promotes understanding and makes learning Filipino a lively and engaging experience. This set of two DVDs presents 42 video dialogs to help students move beyond the beginning level in mastering Filipino structures and functions. The units cover nine thematic areas: (1) meeting people; (2) food; (3) household activities;…