Examines the relationship between ideas of universal grammar (UG) and second language (L2) teaching and learning in medieval Europe in the context of the 20th-century debate about the role of UG in L2 acquisition. The roles of generative linguistics on UG and L2 instruction and learning in the 20th century are discussed. (65 references) (MDM)

Identifies the primary reasons why a world Englishes perspective should be infused into the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) preparatory curriculum and discusses the status of current research in world English. Also provided is a 10-item bibliography of resources for teacher educators who wish to build such a perspective…

This article discusses instructional strategies likely to be effective with culturally and linguistically diverse students regardless of placement. It addresses assessment and misclassification; overreferral or underreferral; differing approaches to second language instruction; and the importance of transfer between languages, opportunities for…

Examined the effectiveness of four instructional approaches for teaching English vocabulary to Korean elementary school students: (1) paper and pencil, (2) computer-based word-for-word, (3) computer-based word-for-word plus picture, and (4) computer-based context. Found that the computer-based context group outperformed the other groups. (18…

This article examines the controversy over the alleged sexism of "French in Action" (1987, 1994) within the context of key differences between French and American feminist thought. Read within a French cultural context, this text can be more accurately perceived as a postmodernist, feminist critique of Hollywood's heterosexual romance…

This study compared the relative effects of traditional and processing instruction on the acquisition of Spanish past tense verb morphology among 61 college-level learners of Spanish. Results revealed significant gains in both comprehension and production for subjects in processing instruction, while subjects in traditional instruction had…

A sample of 62 English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teachers in Australia and New Zealand were asked to recommend a basic library of 10 texts that they considered essential to ESL instructors. Results found a number of core categories of texts and substantial agreement on a basic library. (contains 56 references) (MDM) (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse…

This article describes techniques used to teach English to a 16-year-old Hispanic who is deaf. The educational plan involved vocabulary development, noting similarities and differences between Spanish and English, use of a language experience approach with principles of Sheltered English, and respect for the student's native language and culture.…

Discusses methods of teaching world geography and culture through student involvement and describes lessons that teach students about Africa. One uses maps; one uses computer-assisted instruction; and one uses various resources to recreate an African school day. A sidebar by Janine Onffroy Shelley describes the use of telecommunications systems in…

Rod Ellis discusses contribution, past, present, and future, of second-language acquisition (SLA) studies to English language teaching. Considers two primary issues: conditions that facilitate and promote SLA in classroom; and how teachers can create those conditions. Role of grammar in English classroom is discussed, recent research is described,…

A study investigated proverbial reference in the language of three Chinese graduate students literate in English, contrasting rhetorical use and its contribution to cohesion. Subjects referred to Chinese proverbs frequently, even though they did not help convey meaning well in English, because of emphasis placed on their use in Chinese writing.…

Prochievement tests, hybrids of proficiency and achievement tests, assess students' linguistic and communicative competence and provide a means for formative evaluation of student progress. Assessing Spanish listening comprehension/speaking proficiency, creating listening/oral proficiency test formats, and scoring are described. Guidelines for…

A multisensory structured language (MSL) approach was utilized with two groups of at-risk high school students (n=63), taught in either English and Spanish (MSL/ES) or Spanish only. Foreign language aptitude improved for both groups and native language skills for the MSL/ES group. A group receiving traditional foreign language instruction showed…

Attitudes expressed by language experts, policymakers, and educators at a conference on the implementation of a nationwide elementary school foreign language program in Italy are summarized. Issues discussed include teacher education needs, curriculum content and design, and articulation with other levels of education. (MSE)

A second-language teaching strategy in which students are active in the selection of a unit theme and objective is discussed. In this approach, the teacher assumes the role of monitor in student development of the unit. A sample unit on language for daily living in France illustrates the process. (MSE)