This digest discusses a study that examined the impact of sociocultural factors on the interactions between Latino language minority students and Latino paraeducators and the relationships that result from these interactions. The study explored whether a knowledge of students' culture and communities, primary language, and interaction styles helps…

This document explores problems described by learners of second languages at the university level. It reports on three case studies drawn from a language advisory service at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. An understanding of the range of experiences learners report in a given learning context is likely to shed light on ways in…

This issue has a special, multi-article section on student testing in Texas and contains three additional and unrelated articles. "The Texas Testing Case Documents: G.I. Forum, et al. v. Texas Education Agency, et al." section has five articles: "Overview" (Roger Clegg); a copy of the "First Amended Complaint";…

NCLEnotes is published twice yearly by the National Clearinghouse for ESL Literacy Education and the Center for Applied Linguistics. Volume 8 includes the following articles: "Speaking of Pronunciation" (MaryAnn Cunningham Florez); "NCLE Coordinates ESL Research Priorities"; "Reading in English"; and "A Standards Sampler." The regular features,…

This paper examines the rating scale data of oral proficiency tests analyzed by a Rasch Analysis focusing on an item map and factor analysis. In discussing the item map, the difficulty order of six items and students' answering patterns are analyzed using descriptive statistics and measures of central tendency of test scores. The data ranks the…

This regional dossier aims to provide concise, descriptive information and basic educational statistics about minority language education in a specific region of the European Union-- Alsace, a part of France along the German border. Details about the features of the educational system, recent educational policies, divisions of responsibilities,…

This edited volume is a collection of personal accounts, in narrative and interview format, of the formative literacy experiences of highly successful second language users, all of whom are professional academics. Representing 14 countries of origin, the contributors, who are well known specialists in language teaching as well as a variety of…

A notable feature of developing interlanguage grammars is the apparent optionality in those areas of grammar where optionality is not characteristic of stable state grammars. In the Valueless Features Hypothesis, it is proposed that the appearance of apparent optionality in the very early stages of interlanguage development is due to the partial…

High stakes assessments cannot reliably provide an accurate assessment of English language learners' (ELLs)' abilities in content areas. Cultural differences and limitations concerning opportunity to learn can lead to unfair interpretations of low test scores and assessment discrimination. ELLs cannot demonstrate content mastery without having…

The International Baccalaureate (IB), a 2-year diploma program for students aged 16-19, gives access to higher education on a world-wide basis; it also allows for various national education systems. The program is available in English, French, and Spanish. It is supervised by the IB organization, a non-profit educational foundation with…

This book introduces the latest theories about second language acquisition along with tested approaches and practices for use in elementary schools. It is designed for all educators (not only English as a Second Language teachers) who wish to adapt their repertoire of skills to help all students with literacy skills. The 10 chapters are: (1)…

This sampler of student responses to mathematics and science items was assembled to show how student responses differ depending on whether students are tested in English or in their native languages. The sampler aims to promote awareness among teachers and assessment developers that low language proficiency in English is a factor that can penalize…

These four volumes of a quarterly newsletter offer a collection of articles on teaching English as a Second Language to refugees. The volumes in this document are: Volume 7, Fall 1999 - Special Edition; Volume 8, Spring 2000; Volume 9, Spring 2000; and Volume 12, Fall 2002. Topics covered in these volumes include: "Fort Dix, NJ: Operation…

This report addresses the extent to which students in Connecticut are receiving world language education that meets the Board's expectations. Data are presented on key world language opportunity-to-learn indicators, such as the following: staffing (e.g., with dramatic increases in enrollments in world languages at all levels, the demand for…

The majority of indigenous U.S. languages are no longer learned at home, and the last generation of native speakers are aging. There are increasingly strong efforts by communities to keep their languages alive by developing teaching programs in their schools and communities, although finding teachers is problematic. This paper focuses on how…