An important problem for a language learner is identifying how properties of argument structure are realized morphosyntactically in the particular language they are learning. Speakers of some L1s overgeneralize the morphosyntactic reflexes of the movement of Theme objects in English to unaccusative intransitive verbs, using passive morphology in…

The Indigenous languages of southeast Australia have often been written off as a hopeless cause in current debates about language revitalization. In this paper we question this pessimism and report on some of the progress that has been made in recent years. It will be shown that revitalization is not only possible but contributes to the strength…

It has been claimed that there is only one language, the English language in the United States, because America is not a "polyglot boardinghouse ..." (Portes and Rumbaut 196). The fact is that America has always been a multilingual society, even though this mythical notion of a monolingual American identity reflecting American loyalty…

This paper outlines current cognitive perspectives on second language acquisition (SLA). The Associative-Cognitive CREED holds that SLA is governed by the same principles of associative and cognitive learning that underpin the rest of human knowledge. The major principles of the framework are that SLA is Construction-based, Rational,…

The article discusses how Sinte Gleska University (SGU), South Dakota, has been promoting Lakota language since its inception. SGU is the first tribal-based university in the U.S. White Hat, a teacher from SGU, has been promoting Lakota language through his impressive style of teaching. The university requires every SGU student to opt for Lakota…

The "TIMSS 2011 International Results in Mathematics" summarizes fourth and eighth grade student achievement in each of the 63 countries and 14 benchmarking entities which participated in TIMSS 2011. The report includes trends in mathematics achievement over time for participants in the previous TIMSS 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007…

Project Tradition and Technology (TNT) at Peach Springs Elementary School (Peach Springs, Arizona) is 1 of 12 programs recognized nationally as an outstanding model of bilingual education by the U.S. Department of Education. Project TNT is a process-oriented curriculum development model that identifies the community's needs and expectations for…

The classroom text for teaching the Upper Koyukon variety of Koyukon, an Athabaskan language of Alaska, consists of a series of lessons designed for use throughout a school year (September through June), with three to seven lessons for each month. The language used is relatively simple, consisting primarily of simple statements and questions. The…

This workbook is designed to assist teenagers and adults in learning the Koyukon language, and is intended as a classroom supplement. Users are encouraged to use the language with native speakers. The text consists of 36 lessons on grammar, conversation, and language patterns: exclamations; a beginning conversation; single words that form a…

The manual is designed to teach writing to native speakers of Kobuk Inupiaq, a regional dialect of Alaskan Inupiaq Eskimo. Spelling is emphasized. An introductory section for teachers details the use of the manual, chapter by chapter, and suggests classroom activities. The first chapter provides an introduction to the writing system of Kobuk…

This manual is designed to teach writing to native speakers of Qawiaraq Inupiaq, a regional dialect of Alaskan Inupiaq Eskimo. Spelling is emphasized. An introductory section for teachers details the use of the manual, chapter by chapter, and suggests classroom activities. The first chapter provides an introduction to the writing system of…

This paper discusses literacy, language education, language achievement, and bilingual education policies and practices in Japan. The paper first describes the Japanese writing system (consisting of the "kana" and "kanji" scripts) and notes that students typically study English from grade 7 to the first 2 years of college. The…

Promising practices in the adult English-as-a-Second-Language literacy field that were observed by researchers during site visits are described in this digest. These innovative programs provide a social context for literacy, allow learning through hands on experience, and use learner-generated materials. Some programs may use the native language…

This paper examines efforts to reverse language shift in two indigenous communities in southern Ecuador. The ongoing decline and rapid pace of extinction of many of the world's languages have received increasing amounts of attention, but while processes of language loss and extinction have been extensively studied, relatively little work of…

The Kohanga Reo, or "language nest" centers, provide places where Maori children can learn their native language. In its partnership with Te Kohanga Reo, the New Zealand Early Intervention Service has: (1) sent representatives to Maori tribal committee meetings; (2) ensured Kohanga Reo representation on early intervention management…