A study of native language (L1) use in the collaborative interaction of five dyads of native English-speaking adult learners of Spanish as a second language (L2) found that L1 serves a critical function in students' attempts to mutually define task elements, provide each other with scaffolding help, and externalize inner speech. (Author/MSE)

Bloom's taxonomy suggests that the learning process moves hierarchically, from simple to complex, in both the cognitive and affective domains. Spanish curriculum typically emphasizes the cognitive over the affective domain. However, the two domains appear to be interrelated. Spanish FLES programs could be enhanced by emphasizing the learning…

Explores the relationship between group interaction and interlanguage development, specifically listening comprehension and the production of target grammar forms. Two groups of first-semester Spanish students at an American University took notes on a mini-lecture, then completed a text reconstruction and listening comprehension test. Results…

Although most teachers use word processors and electronic mail on a daily basis, they still depend on paper and pencil for correcting their students' compositions. This article suggests some tools and techniques for submitting, editing, and returning written work electronically. (BD) (Author/VWL)

Teachers can encourage parental involvement and appreciation of studying Spanish through simple homework assignments. This article discusses how students and parents work together to discover the impact of the Spanish-speaking world on their surroundings. (Author)

Through the use of a question notebook, students can practice grammar and develop their vocabulary. This class activity also helps students to begin to write and express their own curiosity. (Author/CK)

Proposes a culturally-sensitive conceptual framework for the mental health treatment of Hispanics, and illustrates how the dimensions of acculturation; language dominance and preference; and cultural norms, values, and beliefs affect the assessment of psychological and physical health. (JPS)

This study used quantitative and qualitative methodology to examine the phonological patterns of 24 3-year-old and 30 4-year-old Spanish-speaking preschoolers of Puerto Rican descent. The children acquired the sounds of their language at an early age and did not exhibit high percentages of occurrence on targeted phonological processes. (DB)

This study tested the effect of embedded clauses on recall for 48 English-speaking high school students reading Spanish historical texts. It found that the complexity of sentence structure seemed to cancel the advantage of previous exposure to the content domain. Contains 39 references. (MDM)

Presents a personal reflection of the difficulties of being a non-English-speaking child in the United States. As a Spanish-language instructor, the author realizes the potential she has to influence her students, teaching not just about the language but also about the culture of Spanish-speaking people. (ER)

Describes the collaborative effort between a professor of literature and a professor of language methodology in the development and implementation of a teaching strategies course for undergraduates and a workshop on the teaching of literature for teaching assistants in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Ohio State University. (Author/VWL)

Using the variationist comparative method, the status of ambiguous lone Spanish-origin nouns in Catalan discourse is determined by analyzing their distribution and conditioning and by comparing them to their counterparts in unmixed Spanish or in multiple-word code switches. Suggests that the grammar of these nouns is Catalan, and their categorical…

Investigates whether, due to the language contact situation in Houston in a group of a Mexican-American speakers, the imperfect forms of subordinate language (Spanish) are going through a process of reduction in favor of the forms of the superordinate language (English) when compared to the speech of Spanish monolinguals. (Author/VWL)

Reports on a study of video use by learners in a multimedia language course, their perceptions of the contribution of video to learning, and the affective evaluations they ascribe to video versus print sources. The subjects for the study were university distance learning students enrolled in a beginning Spanish course. (Contains 14 references.)…

Examines three principles of the poetry of two Latinas, Sandra Cisneros and Judith Ortiz Cofer: the expression of dual language heritage, the highlighting of women's issues as a means of self-affirmation, and the importance of creating time and space for writing. Explains that writing is a way of disrupting learned and expected roles and allows…