The primary tasks of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) sponsored research projects taken from Department of Education (DOE) Requests for Proposals from March 1990 are listed, and extracts from winning proposals are presented. As reflected in the list of topics of the 17 Centers that OERI announced it would fund, educational…

A naturalistic study looked at the acquisition of English by two Japanese boys, aged 4 and 8 years, during a 2.5-year stay in the United States. Data were collected through observation and transcription of spontaneous speech in daily life. Analysis included a variety of features of language use and of the acquisition process, including attitudes…

This guide is designed for the Arabic language training of Peace Corps volunteers serving in Tunisia and focuses on daily communication skills needed in that context. It contains 15 lessons, each made up of: a teacher's guide sheet, which outlines specific objectives, contents, and materials needed; a dialogue introducing the lesson's theme; a…

This manual is designed for the language training of Peace Corps volunteers serving in Samoa, and focuses on daily communication skills needed in that context. It consists of 48 lessons, which include targeted competencies, phrase and vocabulary lists, cultural and usage notes, notes on grammar, and exercises. Lesson topics include: the Samoan…

Conference papers on second language classrooms and culture are presented, including: "Intercultural Communication as Interpersonal Communication" (Kensaku Yoshida); "Classroom Cultures: East Meets West" (Dominic Cogan); "Laying Down the Law: Teachers' Use of Rules" (Gregory Bornmann); "Student Behavior: Whose…

It is proposed that English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) instruction can go beyond learning driven by structures and tests and address universal human needs through an orientation toward meaning and discussion. Application of the concepts of the Whole Language Approach to EFL instruction is explored, drawing on experience with junior college…

This curriculum unit is part of a larger project designed to introduce communication-based, culturally specific instructional materials on French-speaking African societies into foreign language curricula with the goal of increasing the appeal and relevance of French language study, especially to African-American students. The materials are…

This unit is designed to introduce intermediate French language students to an important region of the French-speaking world--Africa. The unit provides the French language teacher with lesson plans and materials that are intended to reinforce French language skills, teach about African culture, and infuse global education skills and concepts. The…

This document is composed of 5 separate volumes which represent case studies of 57 Asian Limited English Proficient (LEP) high school students who attended sheltered classes in the Philadelphia School District (Pennsylvania). Case studies, conducted in 1991-92, were part of a larger study of the student experience in sheltered classes in…

This paper focuses on helping social studies teachers discover ways to help second language students comprehend, use, and learn language as well as content in the classroom. Activities conducive to this purpose include: providing contextual support such as pictures, globes, videotapes, diagrams, body and facial gestures, pantomime and role…

This report examines the demographic and language characteristics and educational aspirations of Asian American and Hispanic American eighth graders and relates that information to their mathematical ability and reading comprehension as measured by an achievement test. Special attention is paid to students who come from homes in which a…

This report is designed as a guide for policymakers and practitioners interested in designing more effective staff development practices. It provides information about elements of effective staff development practices identified through a review of research and site visits to nine staff development programs identified as providing effective…

Selected papers from the 1989 Central State Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages include the following: "From Talk to Action: An Essential for Curricular Change" (June K. Phillips); "Comprehensible Input for Intermediate Foreign Language Students via Video" (Tracy David Terrell); "Developing Extensive Reading Skills: The Transition to…

This report is based on the findings of a Special Issues Analysis Center (SIAC) focus group on active learning instructional models for limited English proficiency (LEP) students which convened in June 1993. The report is aimed at supplying answers for teachers uncertain about what to do when confronted with English language learners (ELL) in…

This report evaluates a 6-week intensive summer program for language teachers at the University of Hawaii. Thirty-two high school or college teachers and teacher trainees of Chinese, Indonesian, Japanese, and Spanish participated. Participants were led by master teachers who provided exemplary teaching, organized language-specific activities,…