Examines whether raters distinguish writing expertise and second-language proficiency while evaluating ESL compositions. Multivariate analysis indicated that both expert and novice teachers distinguished between these skills. Descriptive analysis revealed 28 common decision-making behaviors that varied significantly with the teacher's level of…

This study of 80 autistic (ages 6-18), mentally handicapped, and normal children found that more autistic subjects used neologisms and idiosyncratic language than age- and language-skill-matched control groups. More autistic children used words inappropriately that were neither phonologically nor conceptually related to intended English words than…

A study of the relationships between intermediate English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students' reading and writing of both persuasive and descriptive texts found very complex effects involving such previously unresearched areas as differences among genres, student proficiency levels, student academic levels, and measurement instruments. (33…

This article describes how a course viewing East German literature from the perspective of the new Germany can be planned and taught, with special attention to text selection, class activities, and testing strategies designed to raise linguistic proficiency of students of different language levels in one literature class. (Author/AB)

Compares performance of 45 first graders in partial French immersion, partial Hebrew immersion, and traditional English programs on measures of linguistic analysis ability and early reading skills in English. Finds that subjects in the Hebrew program read nonwords better than the other groups and read orthographically regular words better than…

Reviews the literature and analyzes 1980 census data to study English language fluency and earnings among Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union. Soviet Jews have a difficult initial adjustment, but, after five years in the United States, they achieve parity with other European immigrants in English and earnings. (SLD)

Data used to support Spearman's hypothesis have been incorrectly and inconsistently reported and do not support the claim that African-American-white differences in intelligence are not environmental in origin. Deaf children should not be considered a single population with respect to linguistic deprivation. (SLD)

Describes testability of language-minority students as likelihood of language-minority students meeting five test assumptions necessary for valid scores. Discusses strategies for ensuring and enhancing testability. Explains how state departments of education and school districts use two sets of criteria to exempt language-minority students from…

Surveyed 19 English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL)/Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) programs about their use of Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLBA) scores for in-class placement. Results indicated that most LINC programs based placement decisions solely on CLBA scores. (SM)

The Woodcock Reading Mastery Test-Revised (WRMT-R) is advertised as usable with English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students (with provisions to ensure students' understanding of instructions). This articles describes new features of the WRMT-R and examines criticisms of it since its debut in 1973. (SM)

Investigates in the refugee/immigrant population in the open-admissions college at the University of Minnesota, the relationship between educational background in the native language and second language, English language proficiency as measured by a standardized language-proficiency test, length of residency in the United States, and academic…

Outlines some of the problem areas described by researchers when designing a test of oral production for beginning-level speakers of English, and suggests ways in which these areas may be addressed. (Author/VWL)

This study follows up on a study of the issue of second-language (L2) inner speech as it manifests in mental rehearsal among advanced L2 learners. The purpose of the study was to find out to what extent advanced L2 learners experience inner speech as mental rehearsal and to identify characteristics and functions of such inner speech. (Author/VWL)

This study investigated the role of several sociocultural variables involved in the acculturation process and their relationship to second-language learning and well-being. A causal modeling analysis indicated that an assimilation mode of acculturation was positively related to self-rated English proficiency and preference for responding to the…

Examined increased use of French as a medium of instruction in an early French program in the intermediate school years. Interim results reveal limited evidence for benefits of intensified French for French literacy, constrained evidence of risks associated with French intensification in the domain of English reading, and no evidence of a…