Presents a collection of pictures presenting a visual array of the geographic features, customs, art, dress, and traditions of the Spanish culture on the European continent that are intended for classroom use. (Author/CK)

Contrasts the use of metaphors for death and dying in English and Spanish and makes some observations concerning universal and culture-specific conceptualizations. The article points out that the human capacity to conceptualize and reason derives from experience (perceptions, cultural practices, motor activity) and imagination (metaphor, metonymy,…

Suggests that the degree of acceptance of lexical change in English in Puerto Rico is dependant on both the type of lexical deviance from established norms and on speakers' self-evaluation of language dominance. Of the types of lexical deviance identified, descriptive cognates had the highest acceptance. (Author/JL)

Investigates the self-reported reading habits and levels of ability in reading of ten heritage speakers of Spanish enrolled in Spanish classes at Purdue University. Results warrant more explicit focus on form instruction and activation of background knowledge for heritage speakers. (Author/VWL)

Contains a descriptive list of the finest childrens books available, not as a means of creating mandatory curriculum reading lists but as a means of helping teachers keep up with the best books on the market. Discusses books that address authors' lives, honor the Spanish language, enrich the teaching of history, and teach reading. (TB)

The defining of colors is a very subjective topic and results in many misunderstandings, especially in translation from one language to another. The number and significance of color adjectives vary from culture to culture. The goal of this article is to explain the origins of such variations and to discuss examples of common translation errors and…

Argues that crossing the boundaries between sociolinguistics and second language acquisition (SLA) is essential to both fields of study. Specifically, data collected in an investigation of the SLA of copula choice by 77 English-speaking learners of Spanish are examined in terms of similarities to data collected in studies of language change.…

Two experiments examine the effects of the native language on the second language acquisition argument structure. The linguistic focus is on agentive verbs of directed motion and change-of-state verbs in Spanish and English. Examined whether Spanish and Turkish learners of English undergeneralize the transitivity alternation with manner of motion…

This study on code-mixing focuses on the influence of Spanish in Nahuatl discourse as revealed in narratives produced by adults and children. Results indicate differences in frequency of content word embedded language (Spanish), lexical items across grade level (for children), grade level attained (for adults), and correlations (for children)…

Responds to Robert Kaplan's discussion of language teaching and language policy presented in a earlier article. Special attention is given to the idea that attempts to modify the use of Spanish in the United States should pay greater attention to conditions in Latin America. (Author/VWL)

Challenges the prevalent misconception among many students that the grammatical gender system of Spanish is transparent. Data concerning the number of exceptions in gender assignment in Spanish is presented along with samples of student production. (VWL)

Focuses on the learning experiences of two intermediate-level students enrolled in a third-year, college level Spanish composition and conversation course. Writing samples, postcourse surveys, and student interviews provided insights into the impact of learning strategies and authentic texts on the development of second language writing skills.…

Discusses classroom assessment techniques (CATs), formative assessment tools that require knowledge of one's discipline and a clear desire to increase student learning. Examples are provided from a Spanish grammar and composition course. (Author/VWL)

Investigated the relationships of expressive vocabulary size with frequency of being read to and frequency of watching television among 64 bilingual 21- 27-month-old children from homes in which Spanish and English were spoken. Frequency of being read to in each language was positively correlated with expressive vocabulary size. Frequency of…

Discusses large state schools' needs for placement and assessment tests resulting from the large enrollments in foreign language courses, and reports on the development and field test of an item bank developed at the University of Iowa for the placement and assessment of language students. (14 references) (GLR)