Development of a methodology for translating a certification examination to another language for a small number of examinees is described. The Spanish translation developed for the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners was pilot tested with four candidates. Linguistic and psychometric procedures of the translation are discussed.…

Replication of research on the relationship between universal grammar (UG) and second language learning studied Arabic-speaking learners of English. The present study's findings contradicted the previously supported theory regarding the importance of universal grammar to second language learning. (38 references) (CB)

This paper describes diagnostic methods, treatment approaches, cultural factors, service delivery systems, and governmental roles important in the consideration of the status of mentally retarded people with mental health problems in four Spanish-speaking populations: Chile, Mexico, Spain, and Hispanic groups in the U.S. (JDD)

This report discusses an experimental study in which Spanish dominant students were taught to use metacognitive reading strategies while reading in Spanish. Results of the study lend credibility to the notion that bilingual/bicultural children should be challenged to develop and employ more powerful levels of thought processing within the context…

Three examples of conversation and composition courses that work well because of a large amount of preparation and coordination are outlined in this article. Courses in German, French, and Spanish are included that are concrete examples. (JL)

This article describes a Spanish-speaking gifted child with limited English proficiency. The case study describes behaviors indicating giftedness, the importance of proper placement in school, home and cultural factors, identification of the culturally diverse student, and the development of a second language. (DB)

Describes how a university supervisor of Spanish and a cooperating high school Spanish teacher participated in a one-week exchange of professional duties for the purpose of understanding each other's roles more fully. Results of the exchange prompted the redesign of the teacher preparation program. (17 references) (JL)

An ethnographic study analyzed parent-child socialization in Mexican-American immigrant and first-generation families in California. Collectivism characterized the childrearing of the immigrant parents and remained a value for the first-generation parents, though socialization practices shifted in an individualistic direction. Both generations…

Verbal and nonverbal classification tasks were administered in Spanish and English to 30 bilingual children, aged 6-7. Results indicate the positive influence of bilingualism on cognitive development and support a model in which bilingual children construct two representational systems--one, nonverbal and universal across languages; and a second,…

Examined the language and cultural attitudes of middle school students participating in a foreign language exploratory program. Some students participated in culture-related lessons that employed attitude-change theory. Results demonstrated that many students enter their first language class with misconceptions about language learning that may…

An interactive, multimedia program designed to teach writing in Spanish as a second language is described and its instructional features are discussed. In it, students must interpret ambiguous scenes and communicative interactions in Spanish to create a fictional account. An oral component also requires students to speak the language. (MSE)

Examined strategies that students reported using in the comprehension and learning of new information while listening to two radio broadcasts in Spanish. The findings have implications for both the use of authentic listening materials in instruction and for listening strategy research. (51 references) (LB)

The politicalization of curricular innovation in a state public school district charged with the implementation of Arizona's proposed State Board Rule of 1989 for introducing elementary foreign language in grades 1-8 is discussed. The district's use of existing resources, pilot year feedback, staff development program, and external partnerships is…

Text familiarity exerted a strong influence on the reading outcomes of 2 test groups (18 advanced and 18 high-intermediate learners) of Spanish-speaking medical students learning English as a Second Language. However, reading scores for the medical English abstracts, tested in three formats (familiar, moderately familiar, unfamiliar) showed that…

Traces the history of Africans in Mexico and the Costa Chica and compares elements of the regional speech as described in a 1958 study with data collected on-site in 1991-1992. Findings indicate that the successful introduction of public education coupled with the ubiquity of the mass media have reduced or eliminated the more distinctively…