It is recommended that listening comprehension have a larger role in second-language instruction, particularly at intermediate/advanced levels. Sample materials focusing on the speech act of disagreement are proposed for university students of Italian. The materials expose students to a variety of registers and strategies and integrate language…

Examines the economic merits of teaching Research English to English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) student researchers, particularly in the fields of science and technology. It is suggested that a lack of sociopragmatic skills in the predominating reporting medium of English represents a potential barrier to entry into the international market of…

Reports findings from an action research project that set up an instructional program for Punjabi-speaking women immigrants and traced their English and literacy development in classroom and home settings. Data indicate that efforts to teach and acquire literacy focused on language code; self-control strategies and schematic representations for…

In the context of an increasingly interdependent world society, discusses the benefits of early acquisition of a second language for American children. Benefits cited include the ease of learning a second language at an early age, improved abilities in concept formation, greater cognitive flexibility, and appreciation of cultural diversity. Second…

Description and review of recently introduced computer software focuses on word processing in non-Roman character sets for the MacIntosh, courseware developments using recordable CD-ROM drive, desktop video and graphics equipment, and a language lab management package. (CNP)

A brief description of several open computer programs (programs that allow the teacher to write or "author" texts, passages, tests, etc.) notes the main features and their usefulness to the high school English classroom. (CNP)

English teachers developed several activities for their ninth- and tenth-grade students using basic word processing capabilities. The materials described include guided writing (a job application form); passages involving cloze and pair work; relating details from a story; and work with a song and its written text. (CNP)

Ten groups (2-5 members each) of tenth-grade Israeli English-as-a-Second-Language students took first a group quiz and then individual quizzes on the same material. Comparison of the results showed that, especially for weaker students, group work and group grades offered some advantages over individual work and assessment. (CNP)

A one-year study is reported that addresses whether and in which way grammatically computer-assisted language learning (CALL) can help English writing instruction in a Taiwanese setting. Results of a CALL courseware intervention with first-year college students suggest that classroom instruction combined with grammatical CALL is at least not…

Through a review of recent studies on the subject, it becomes clear that the focus of innovation in language teaching has been largely concerned with technological change rather than adoption of new pedagogical procedures. Furthermore, the assumptions behind innovation efforts need to be challenged to determine whose interests are being served.…

Studied the effect of grading classroom communicative activities on student performance at two different levels. Results indicated no significant difference in scores between the experimental and control groups at either level. (10 references) (VWL)

An inductive and interactive classroom technique to help advanced French language students reformulate simplified schemata into more useful insights into French grammar is described. It is proposed that, by developing the ability to revise continually structural hypotheses, students can expand syntactic repertories and improve long-term language…

A project carried out with seventh- and eighth-grade students in a religious Jerusalem school identified English words of Semitic origin, preferably Hebrew. English words that were already part of the students' vocabulary were also Hebraicized and used in sentences. Word lists are included. (11 references) (LB)

Discusses one approach found to be successful for teachers with little formal English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) training and few ESL text materials to help their primary-aged ESL students to develop wide and varied uses of English. A discussion focuses on the use of wordless books in oral language and literacy development. (11 references) (GLR)

Discusses the practicalities associated with the introduction of proficiency-based instruction into university programs and courses that teach Arabic. Some of the additional responsibilities that such innovations place on the language teacher are identified, and issues for further discussion, research, and experimentation are raised. (19…