It is argued that while task-centered assessment of second language learning has the strong support of teachers and learners, focuses on language as a tool rather than as an end in itself, and fosters learning, there remain some problems with its use. Further work must be done to develop assessment criteria that reflect current theories of…

Issue 1 and 2 is a special issue devoted to the cultural-historical school of thought about mental development based on the work of Lev Vygotsky. The four articles that discuss a cross section of issues from the Vygotskyan Paradigm are as follows: "Mind as a Cultural Achievement: Implications for IQ Testing" (Michael Cole); "Children's Social…

This workbook is one of a series designed for adult learners of English as a Second Language. The overall aim of this volume is that the student who is a landed immigrant in Canada and leaves the country for a vacation or family visit will be able to deal successfully with Canadian immigration and customs officials upon return to Canada. This…

The Educational Testing Service is preparing to introduce a new generation of teacher assessments, the Praxis Series of professional assessments for beginning teachers. Preparatory to test development, a job analysis was conducted to define a knowledge and ability domain important for newly certified Spanish teachers to perform their jobs in a…

A 1994 Department of Education national evaluation of federally-supported adult education programs looked at programs' effectiveness in improving literacy skills, English language proficiency, and secondary school completion. National policy on adult literacy education is articulated in the Adult Education Act (AEA) and National Literacy Act,…

This set of instructional materials is designed to provide beginning and intermediate learners of Haitian Creole with a foundation in the phonology, grammar, and vocabulary of the language. It is intended for use by individuals wanting to communicate with monolingual Haitians. A revision of earlier materials, this set emphasizes authentic…

A 1987 project to develop materials for computer-assisted instruction in Thai and Indonesian and to train teachers in their use is described. Three different sets of Thai materials based on authentic materials were developed and field tested. One concerned the layout and function of a Thai monastery compound, another was an advanced exercise in…

The purpose of this manual, which accompanies a video program, is to provide general background information for foreign language teachers who are, or soon will be, teaching in total, partial, or two-way immersion classrooms. Part of a series of video programs, this manual provides definitions, results, and answers to the most commonly asked…

This annotated bibliography was developed to support a Blackfoot language and culture program for elementary and secondary students in Alberta (Canada) schools. Resources include books, booklets, videos, and filmstrips. Materials are listed alphabetically by title within the following categories: (1) language learning resources (9 titles); (2)…

The selection and use of instructional materials to develop technical writing skills in limited-English-proficient foreign students are discussed. Focus is on the influence of cultural differences in second language learning and the need for instructional materials that accommodate these differences. The first section examines American…

This report describes results of research on the actual and potential effects of educational reform on the academic achievement of school language-minority students. It is found that recent education reform efforts complement societal sentiments favoring greater inclusion of students, but this sentiment can be translated into action only when…

This report evaluates the activities from February 1, 1994 to May 31, 1995 of the National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center at Iowa State University. The center's purpose is to support training of elementary and secondary school foreign language teachers. Initiatives of the center focus on professional development in three areas: use of…

This paper addresses the educational needs of children who speak English as a Second Language (ESL) and considers the issues that are critical to providing these children with beneficial classroom environments, focusing on the effective instruction of bilingual children who are placed in classrooms with monolingual teachers and monolingual…

A study undertaken in Japan investigated the degree to which students' use of English as a Second Language in journal writing outside of class corresponded to their performance on language tests. Specifically, the correct use of articles in the position and function of "a, an, and the" was examined. Subjects were students in a secondary…

The purpose of this report was to collect a summary of information on instructional programs for bilingual students in Irving Independepent School District (Texas), so the parents of these students as well as staff members could evaluate the existing bilingual programs. The effectiveness of improving English-as-a-Second-Language skills for…