Investigated the nature of second-language proficiency with respect to its divisibility and components. The correlated-traits and second-order hypotheses were evaluated using 354 students learning English-as-a-Second-Language, a wide range of language proficiency measures, and comfirmatory data-analytic techniques. (36 references) (Author/OD)

Nonfluent and fluent dysphasic subjects (N=22) and nondysphasic subjects (N=20) were assessed on tasks of word fluency and picture-naming. Results showed that clinical language examinations should utilize contexts other than naming tasks for detecting the presence of word retrieval problems and for differentiating the two polar types of dysphasia.…

Bilingual programs offer an opportunity for Canadian citizenship preparation if courses focus on: (1) mastering factual information; (2) understanding Canadian culture and how its systems work; and (3) using what has been learned in the courses. (Author/CB)

Explores the effects of question task conditions on reading comprehension and metacomprehension for proficient readers, disabled readers, and deaf readers. Finds several significant interaction effects for both demonstrated and perceived comprehension performance in selected-response and constructed-response question tasks under both lookback and…

An overview of the English for Academic/Occupational Purposes (EA/OLP) situation focuses on the recent preoccupation with using simplified, abridged versions of legal cases in many of the available EA/OLP programs to the neglect of legislative use of language. The neglect or overemphasis of either approach will decrease learners' legal language…

Because of the diverse proficiency ranges among his students, a foreign language professor twice covered the content of a semester-long introductory Spanish course, allowing more proficient students to complete the course at mid-term and retainng less proficient students to re-review difficult areas. (CB)

Investigative evidence suggests that "advanced" English as a second language (ESL) students lack (1) imputed English language competence in the context of reading and (2) the effective strategies of native language readers and of linguistically more mature non-native readers. Ways to help ESL students overcome their limited control of syntactic…

Suggests some considerations crucial to maintaining and improving the current acceptance and promotion of foreign language instruction, focusing particularly on notions involving functional language learning and oral language skills. (CB)

Some teaching and learning that occurred in the English on the Job Project, a long-term English-as-a-Second-Language program for immigrant employees in Australia, is reported. Language awareness, which was intentionally exploited or developed to increase second-language (L2) proficiency, had a significant positive effect on L2 development.…

Suggests that reading is a powerful source in acquiring language competence. The author argues that children do not enjoy grammar instruction, but love to hear stories and read books that they select on their own. Given the lack of clear evidence for focusing on form, it is concluded that free reading should be an option for immersion children.…

Discusses how literary texts can be used with elementary and lower intermediate language students. A series of tasks and activities for exploiting three different poems is then presented. The types of task and activity aim not only to help teachers overcome the difficulties of using literature at this level but also to extend the students'…

Reviews recent trends in performance testing, focusing on different definitions of performance testing; the extent to which performance tests have drawn upon the theoretical discussions of competence and performance; research on performance tests; and future developmental and research questions. (66 references) (MDM)

Reviews research on the acquisition of second-language (L2) phonology, focusing on whether adult learners have access to the principles and parameters of Universal Grammar (UG). It argues that UG is still accessible in L2 phonological acquisition, and parameters can be reset but that the Subset Principle can impede learning success. (51…

This paper argues that it is necessary for researchers and test developers in the area of language performance testing to have a clear understanding of the role of underlying performance capacities in second language performance. It critically evaluates the models proposed by Hymes, Canale and Swain, and Bachman. (71 references) (MDM)

This study illustrates a procedure for analyzing a single subject's variability of response times in a simple, timed lexical task. It examined the extent to which second language English word recognition in this subject was subserved by automatic as opposed to controlled processes. (33 references) (MDM)