Describes an action research project that took place in the Johannesburg College of Education in the period immediately before and after South Africa's first democratic election in 1994. Student teachers from diverse social and cultural backgrounds were introduced to critical language awareness theory and encouraged to read texts critically and…

In response to falling enrollments in French and a diminishing pool of high school teachers, faculty at Auburn University tried to turn the tide through a series of curricular and advocacy initiatives. They introduced new French majors in education and in international trade and a collaborative major with the Consumer Affairs Department in French…

Analyzes the use of various technologies to enhance literacy practices within a multi-genre writing project involving pre-service teachers and middle school students. Twenty-seven pre-service teachers, simultaneously enrolled in a methods and a technology course, collaborated with middle school students using a synchronous Web discussion to…

A comparison of native and nonnative (Japanese) English speakers' expressions for offers and requests found that Japanese subjects were typically too direct in most situations and sounded rude, even when they intended to be polite. This suggests that the pragmatic competence of Japanese learners of English needs to be reinforced in language…

Investigates differences in reading acquisition processes between Dutch and Turkish children learning to read Dutch. Finds that both groups rely on comparable reading strategies. Presents a structural model to examine interactions between the various reading processes in Dutch. Suggests that children learning to read in a second language should…

Evaluates the present state of literature teaching in the English departments of five selected private higher schools (Lise) in Istanbul (Turkey) through an analysis of student and teacher responses to questionnaires. The findings may yield further insights for implementing literature-teaching strategies in non-English-speaking countries.…

Ten principles of interactive language teaching and learning link language pedagogy today with that of fifty years ago. Topics discussed include: (1) student as language learner; (2) language learning and teaching; (3) classroom communication; (4) knowledge and control of language; (5) testing; and (6) scope of language teaching. (MSE)

Discusses how the state of language learning in Britain relates to the establishment of a Single European Market. It is suggested that industry underestimates the time needed for language and culture study. A focus on languages other than French and early exposure to foreign languages and cultures is needed. (Author/LMO)

Presents a rationale for adopting a client-centered approach for foreign language teacher development programs. An inservice English-as-a-second-language teacher education workshop in Adelaide (Australia) helped participants to select and grade learning tasks. Participants then incorporated the "good" learning tasks into their own…

Discusses the unique approaches, well-put notions, fine-tuned procedures, or insightful conclusions in 10 dissertations nominated for the 1989 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the International Reading Association. (RS)

The first stage of a study of Ottawa French immersion graduates at four universities examines their language skills; language use in university studies, work, and social life; attitudes toward the use of French; and opportunities for use and retention of advanced French skills at the universities. Research methodology is also discussed.…

An overview of the current status of Chinese language instruction in the United States focuses on trends in enrollment, interest in foreign language study, relevance of the less commonly taught languages, and instructional methods and materials. Solutions to long-standing problems in Chinese language study are included. (CB)

Describes three projects funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development that used new methodologies for educational radio with elementary students: (1) the Radio Mathematics Project of Nicaragua; (2) the Radio Language Arts Project of Kenya; and (3) the Radio Science Project of Papua New Guinea. (LRW)

Explores and analyzes research concerning the effect of limited English-language proficiency on children's performance in Australian schools, focusing on educational policies, characteristics of limited-English-speaking children, attitudes toward such children, and English-as-a-Second-Language acquisition. (CB)

A comparison of the French language proficiency of high school students taking the Advanced Placement (AP) Examination for French against college students in their sixth semester of French study found that the college students did slightly less well than the high school students. AP grading standards were more stringent than those used by college…