Test items designed to measure the four language skills and their combinations are presented; various presentations of item types (question, statement, sentence completion, etc.) are illustrated; and the best possible uses are given for each of the different types. The author is Chief of the Measurement Branch, Defense Language Institute, English…

Revised version of a paper presented at the Fifth Symposium of the PILEI, Programa Interamericano de Linguistica y Ensenanza de Idiomas (Inter-American Program on Linguistics and Foreign Language Instruction), Sao Paolo, Brazil, January 11, 1969. (DS)

The ability of two groups of different language proficiency to make appropriate grammatical judgments and correct sentences was analyzed. With increased proficiency, students moved from a general grammatical ability to an ability to identify and correct details. Results are discussed in terms of concepts of implicit/explicit knowledge and…

Two major analytic procedures for estimating the number of children with limited English proficiency (discriminant analysis and probabilistic procedures) are described and strengths and weaknesses discussed. Synthetic cohort analysis (an expanded version of the probabilistic approach) is described and recommended as an alternate procedure for…

Discusses the distinctions between the acquisition of a second language and of a foreign language. Proposes a tridimensional model for all varietal manifestations of foreign, second, and native language acquisition. Describes Singapore English and the English used by a group of Chinese-medium educated Singaporeans in terms of the model. (EKN)

Classroom interactional patterns by language choice and speech partner of six four-year old Spanish-preferring children in a bilingual preschool, observed over one year, indicated that those children using relatively more English with peers in the classroom and increasing their English usage over time generally showed the greatest increases in…

New York University instituted a classwide screening and testing program for specific learning disabilities in dental students. Follow-up, in-depth examinations yielded a 90-percent identification accuracy rate. Specific test results, data analysis, and comparisons of self-report measures are presented and program accommodations are suggested.…

The effects of training in test-taking skills on the readiness test performance of young Spanish-speaking children from low socioeconomic backgrounds were assessed. Findings support the hypothesis that testwiseness is an important influence for such children and should be considered in assessment programs. (Author/AL)

Describes the criteria behind the development of the English Language Testing Service system, a new language proficiency evaluation instrument developed by the British Council. This system is based on an analysis of foreign students' communication needs in the context of their professional training and academic life. Societe Nouvelle Didier…

Examines the differential use of formal explicit knowledge and intuitive implicit knowledge in a second language grammaticality judgement tasks. (Author/AM)

Describes a research project based on a questionnaire designed to determine the language needs in French of English-speaking Canadian diplomats assigned overseas. (AM)

Critiques the "Report of the President's Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies." It is indicated that the crux of the national problem was overlooked. A proposal is made that a six-year program of coordinated language instruction is possible and would accomplish the result desired by the Commission. (Author/AMH)