Presents a model of the speaker's sociopsychological motivations when he engages in code-switching (CS). The use of CS can be interpreted as a marked or an unmarked choice of discourse mode. (38 references) (Author/CK)

Addresses the immediate needs of language teachers who want to develop their students' reading skills but have not been provided with the instructional information necessary to do so. It suggests a methodological sequence for using the students' background knowledge and strategy training for foreign language reading using authentic texts. (33…

A research project is described that attempted to define current material needs in foreign language in elementary schools programs and to determine whether current software already developed for computer-assisted language learning could augment classroom instruction. A list of software available for elementary schools is appended. (12 references)…

An inexpensive way to foster interactive, participatory learning in the language laboratory through communicative tasks is described. Problems with traditional approaches are discussed, and enthusiastic reactions from both students and teachers to the University of Maryland-College Park multimedia approach are reported. (39 references) (LB)

A modified matched guise technique was used with 57 subjects to evaluate 14 recorded voices in 3 accent categories (broad, mild, hypercorrect). Some differences were found between native speakers and nonnative speakers, and the results pose questions in terms of the two distinct judgmental dimensions of solidarity and status. (60 references) (LB)

Discusses the use of the "portraiture" methodology to study a joint curriculum project between a U.S. and a Puerto Rican bilingual (Spanish-English) elementary school, which focuses on the use of De Orilla a Orilla, an international computer networking project, to arrange collaborative teaching, communicate by electronic mail and…

A study of the use of the student monitor sheet, which indicates suggested correct answers in communicative paired and group foreign language learning activities, found that the sheet helps students to communicate more effectively, creates a more lively and relaxed learning atmosphere, and increases student confidence. (four references) (Author/CB)

Suggestions are offered for involving advanced Spanish-language students more directly in watching and making later use of videotapes. Steps include preparing students to watch the videos, writing a survey on the video topic, and creating a computerized class newsletter. (LB)

After a brief discussion of discovery writing, several types of writing activities are suggested that can enhance learning and critical thinking. They include free writes, journals, electronic dialogue, collaborative writing assignments, and class newsletters. (LB)

Discusses how native speakers of Spanish, accustomed to dealing with nonnative Spanish speakers, evaluated 18 taped nonnative speech samples that provided a wide sample of pronunciation. Comprehensibility, voice agreeability/ disagreeability, and nativeness of accent were rated. (32 references) (LB)

It is shown that many students' errors in second-language learning are based on conclusions that they are drawing from faulty and incomplete information in textbooks, whereas other "errors" are the result of normal language learning strategies and occur in systematic patterns. (LB)

Analysis of adult learners' reports on comprehension strategies, comprehension level, confidence, and affective response to two authentic Spanish radio broadcasts found gender differences in comprehension strategy use and perceived confidence level, suggesting the need for instruction about the evaluation of strategy effectiveness and about…

Tested English and Spanish receptive vocabulary of 396 Hispanic preschoolers in Miami. English scores were more than one-and-a-half standard deviations below the mean. The mean score in Spanish was 95 compared to a mean of 100 for the Spanish norming population. Factors other than vocabulary knowledge that might account for the lower scores were…

Proposes six related cognitive statuses relevant for explicating the use of referring expressions in natural language discourse. A study of the distribution of referring expressions in naturally occurring discourse in English, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and Spanish is offered as support for the proposal. (Contains 91 references.) (Author)

The diverse population of a community college requires strategies that heighten motivation and reduce frustration of students trying to master complex foreign language grammatical structures. A "package approach" is described for teaching all object pronouns as extra material for students to enjoy. (Contains five references.) (Author/LB)