Presents a psycholinguistic experiment focusing on whether common phonological alterations play a role in native speakers' perceptions of whether two words share a morpheme. Results indicate they are a significant factor in speakers' perceptions of morphemic relatedness. These findings show that phonological generalizations are psychologically…

Foreign-language teachers can use everyday objects as visual aids to help enliven beginning-level language courses and teach students useful vocabulary. Describes visual aids and techniques used in a university-level review class in first-year Spanish. (MDM)

Characteristics and types of role-play for the language classroom are discussed. Sample activities for grades K-3 and for grades 4-6 are offered. (Contains 15 references.) (Author/LB)

Practical strategies for eliciting vocabulary without translation in a Spanish class are discussed, and examples are given of a cross-skills approach that requires students to use different linguistic abilities to generate appropriate lexical responses. Figures showing how to construct these exercises are included. (Contains 14 references.)…

Discusses the eight-month examination of interactive student-teacher journal entries of first-, third-, and fifth-grade Spanish-English bilingual classrooms. Concludes that students did not make a "transition" from native to second language, instead used a bilingual approach, shifting language in journal entries. Suggests mandatory…

The language development of 12 premature and 12 full-term Mexican American infants was compared at age 22 months. The Sequenced Inventory of Communication Development-Revised revealed that premature infants may acquire language at a slower rate than full-term infants, with expressive language more affected than receptive language skills.…

Using play learning and real-world problem solving, an alternative Arizona program is cultivating confidence and love of learning in bilingual first-graders. Children learn by using their own language (Spanish), learning styles, and thought processes. Besides problem-solving, the "cube train" teaches estimation, number relationships,…

Six group games were introduced into a second-grade bilingual classroom. Children's talk during each game was classified using a modification of Dyson's five language functions (representational, directive, heuristic, personal, and interactional). Group games provided many communication opportunities. Some children tried new communication styles.…

Examines an approach (story squares) to teaching Spanish pronunciation utilizing contextual supports and extralinguistic aids to comprehension. (11 references) (GLR)

Pictorial flashcards, particularly with effective use of color and humor, are recommended for effective secondary school Spanish classrooms. Student participation in flashcard creation, thematic cards as teaching tools, and class activities are described. (LB)

A comparison of the performance of age- and intelligence-matched bilingual (n=46) and monolingual (n=38) six- and seven-year olds on the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities indicated that the bilinguals had significantly inferior performance in tests of the visual-motor channel, analogous auditory-vocal tests, and representative level. (18…

Reports on the topics covered during a summer training institute for Hispanic parents residing in an inner-city Houston, Texas, school district to promote their involvement in their children's education. Training sessions covered language, culture, self-identity, and parental involvement to help students succeed in school. (11 references) (CB)

Reviews literature regarding the intellectual and linguistic characteristics of Hispanic bilinguals, explores the understanding and proper use of psychometric tests with Hispanic children, and presents specific recommendations for the psychoeducational assessment of Puerto Rican bilingual children that involve the development and use of bilingual…

Examines some of the methods and materials that were used to teach reading by some of the first Spanish colonists in sixteenth-century colonial Mexico, and includes a discussion of picture writing, alphabetic script, and reading instruction methods and materials. (28 references) (CB)

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines are first reviewed and analyzed, followed by an analysis of the Spanish language writing produced by students at a very selective, private university who were enrolled at different levels of Spanish language study. (75 references) (LB)