Since the 1996 Oakland School Board decision regarding the use of Ebonics as a tool of instruction, opinions have clashed over whether Ebonics is a separate language or merely a dialect of English. Called Black Vernacular English (BVE) in the 1960s and 70s, African American Vernacular English (AAVE) in the 1980s and 90s, (called…

Analyzes cultural diversity in Britain as associated with recent immigration. Reveals that although England and Wales have borrowed from foreign practice, their educational responses are sufficiently different to merit comparative study of the particular context in England which have produced a set of educational policies at variance with other…

Notwithstanding the barriers posed by multiplicity of languages, inherited colonial policies, and negative state and citizen attitudes, West African experience supports a policy of using the mother tongue rather than a foreign language as the medium of instruction in schools at all levels. (Author/MJL)

Discusses the sociolinguistics of literacy with reference to three examples: the history of Jewish education and attitudes toward literacy, the Rock Point Community School bilingual program, and the Pacific Northwest Indian Reading Program. (EKN)

Describes the development since 1939 and the success of Ysgolion Cymraeg, bilingual schools in the anglicized areas of Wales which seek to revive and maintain the Welsh language by using it as the chief language of instruction up to age 7. (SJL)

Describes problems involved in making Swedish language versions of foreign films. (CHC)

Considers the position of Franco-Ontarians studying to become French-medium teachers. They are a minority, subordinate to the English-speaking population, and in many ways subinordinate within the francophone community. Using contrasts between primary (home-based) and secondary discourses, and between teaching-as-apprenticeship and…

Discusses endangerment of the Navajo language, blaming schooling, but noting several other factors that weaken language loyalty. Explains that vernacular literacy, traditional and introduced religion, and political structure have failed to establish a counterforce to language loss. Economic changes have led to new living patterns that, together…

It is argued that the concept of genre-based language teaching is both useful in the first language and also in the second- and foreign language classroom. The theoretical basis for the concept of genre is also outlined. (60 references) (GLR)

Traces the history of English in Fiji, especially in relation to education. The role of English in interethnic communication and as a language of wider communication with the outside world is discussed, and features of Fiji English, a local language variety, are described. (Author/CB)

Reviews the history of English and education in the Samoas. Discussion focuses on the social, political, economic, and educational factors that relate to levels of English and native language literacy in the two Samoas, and that help to explain the decline of native language literacy in American Samoa over the past several years. (Author/CB)

Explores the use of American Sign Language (ASL) in the bilingual instruction of English as a Second Language for deaf students. Issues addressed include dominant languages, language minorities, legislative and cultural recognition of ASL as an official language, and limited English proficiency. (CB) (Adjunct ERIC Clearinghouse on Literacy…

A review of studies investigating the effects of bilingualism on the cognitive and academic performance of language-minority students indicates both negative and positive effects. Compared with monolingual students, differences favoring bilingual students are found in studies utilizing Piagetian measures, which are not heavily language dependent.…

Reflects on the process of "normalization" that is gaining prestige in Majorca (Spain) as it restores Catalan to the role of official language. The outcome of the process of normalization in Spain may positively influence the possible approaches for the newly created multilingual states of post-Soviet Eastern Europe as they seek to…

Analyzes the political, educational, and technical factors that strongly influenced the Ramirez study of bilingual programs. Enumerates strengths and weaknesses of the study's research methodology, along with implications for decision making in language-minority education. Summarizes defensible conclusions of the study that have not yet been…