Research has demonstrated that many linguistic features correlate with social stratification of speakers and that these features often serve as social identifiers that trigger language stereotypes. An experiment was conducted to verify these findings with regard to Portuguese ethnic groups. Judges from four Portuguese-speaking ethnic groups…

This evaluation report summarizes results of the Bilingual Language Arts Program (BLAST), Walton High School, Bronx, New York, 1983-1984. BLAST was designed as a transitional program emphasizing student integration into society. The program provided instruction in English as a second language and native language arts, as well as bilingual…

Posits that a child's success in acquiring English may depend to a large degree on his or her proficiency in the heritage language. (CB)

Describes a study which examined the literacy approach to Spanish for Native Speakers (SNS) by focusing on one SNS class. The focus was on the relationship between the teachers' and the students' perceptions of the uses for Spanish literacy and the kinds of tasks found in textbooks and assignments. (Author/SED)

The variety of languages spoken in Southeast Asia complicates the promotion of Southeast Asian studies in American universities. Increased funding for language study abroad and more intensive summer language programs might lessen the problem. Other problems are limited access to field research and the issue of the humanities' role in Southeast…

Describes current funding problems in the field of Russian and East European studies. Focuses on the needs of younger scholars, who face a shortage of academic positions, and the research institutes, which are hard pressed to develop offerings of many of the Eastern European languages. (KH)

This model develops the ESL component by combining practical advantages of bilingual classrooms and theoretical trends in bilingual education while avoiding traditional ESL texts. Included are identification of objectives, materials selection, English language inventory, and lesson design and presentation. Content area in both languages is used to…

Discusses the growing use of ethnic mother tongues as languages of instruction in Canadian public classrooms. Reviews the development of private ethnic schools and then examines the role, varieties, and motivations of public bilingual programs. Concludes that, despite the growth of public bilingual education, private ethnic schools will not become…

This teacher's guide is intended for the instruction of both French as a first language and French as a second language in immersion programs. It provides a host of strategies for teaching listening skills in the classroom in Grades 1 through 7. The first section is designed to bring the teacher's awareness to the training procedure. It discusses…

This document is designed for use by teachers of French-as-a-first-language kindergarten programs in Alberta. It outlines the vision, elements, and goals of the program, explains the context of the francophone environment in Alberta, and provides practical tools for the implementation of the program in consideration of the specific needs of the…

This book presents six essays that explain where the educational term "scaffolding" comes from and what it means, then journeys into classrooms that demonstrate effective scaffolding in practice. In the process, it shows that "content" cannot be taught apart from the language about that content. The essays in the book are also about the role of…

Two main instructional approaches have been used to educate English learners in California--English language development (ELD) together with academic instruction in the primary language (bilingual education), and ELD with or without Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English (SDAIE). Since the passage of Proposition 227 in June 1998,…

It is suggested that although patterns learned as a part of native language acquisition may interfere with learning a second language, the use of metalanguages may promote an understanding of the native language that in turn contributes to learning others. Specific examples of classroom exercises are included. (MSE)

Based on a literature review and analysis of teaching methods and objectives, it is proposed that the emphasis on communicative competence ascendant in French foreign language instruction is closely related to, and borrows from, expressive techniques taught in French native language instruction in the 1960s. (MSE)

It is proposed that development of research skills, encompassing research for innovation, improvement, or theoretical purposes, be an essential and early part of the teacher education program for elementary school French native language teachers. This is seen as particularly important in recognizing and teaching the plurality of languages spoken…