Oral paraphrase is presented as an informal and versatile strategy for assessing and enhancing listening comprehension in mainstreamed students with language/learning disabilities. Approaches to assessing the listening comprehension demands of individual classrooms and using various dimensions of paraphrasing to enhance language comprehension and…

Discusses the course content, methodology, architecture, role of the student, and development process of a unique videodisc self-study program to teach Russian speaking, reading, and listening skills to adults. Equivalent to a 120-hour, teacher-delivered course, the course is designed to produce speaking proficiency at the Foreign Service…

An approach to writing instruction in a second language begins with a look at the different functions of oral and written language and proceeds to an analysis of stylistic differences. A number of examples are offered from French textbooks, letters, and excerpts from speech used on television. (MSE)

Describes a study undertaken at Brock University that correlates performance of students in English-as-a-Second-Language courses in spoken and written English with achievement in their other academic courses. (eight references) (GLR)

Investigation of Vietnamese and Cambodian immigrants' acquisition of the English variable "ing" found that such production was constrained by phonological, grammatical, stylistic, and social factors. (39 references) (Author/CB)

Oral language abilities in 20 boys (ages 9-13) with chronic behavior disorder were investigated, using 20 standardized language measures. Findings indicated generally poor or inconsistent language skills, with abstract concepts and linguistically complex structures particularly difficult. (Author/DB)

A discussion of immediacy, the degree of perceived physical or psychological closeness between people, looks at a variety of verbal and nonverbal factors and behaviors useful to gain immediacy among co-workers, including attractiveness, clothing, posture, facial/eye behavior, vocal cues, space, touch, time, and gestures. Cross-gender dimensions,…

Teachers at an Israeli junior high school observed and assisted examiners administering the oral Bagrut examinations and realized the importance of oral language proficiency as part of the final examination. Positive repercussions are discussed. (LB)

Data from two-year-old children and mothers were collected concerning age at which she began to read to child, frequency of home reading, number of stories read per week, frequency of visits by child to library. Picture-book reading exposure was more strongly related to receptive than expressive language. Age of onset of home reading routines was…

Results of a study of international graduate teaching assistant (ITA) language competence suggest that groups of undergraduates can provide a responsible majority vote regarding the readiness of an ITA to assume instructional duties, if those undergraduate focus on categories identified in a formal evaluation sheet. An evaluation sheet is…

Analysis of performance evaluations of 233 international graduate teaching assistants found that students who received negative recommendations for teaching assignments had significantly lower Test of English-as-a-Foreign-Language and Graduate Record Examination verbal scores than those who received positive recommendations. (27 references)…

Describes how a literature and writing professor uses readings, writing assignments, and class discussions to help students broaden their understanding or orality and literacy and to respond critically to implicit cultural and racial biases. Notes that a process of self-empowerment occurs for both black and white students. (SR)

Discusses the problems faced by teachers of third-year (i.e. advanced) Italian language courses, particularly in developing students' speaking skills. Stresses the importance of "real talk" and discusses relevant student activities such as interviewing native speakers, preparing live radio broadcasts, and videotaping students speeches and…

Describes plans and efforts to shape speech-interactive computer-assisted language-learning programs. Current proficiency guidelines provide a practical framework for this development. (Author/VWL)

Examines the role of output, especially of speaking, in a foreign-language-learning environment. While speaking English, Japanese high school students' performances were videotaped, and they were asked to reflect on their cognitive processes. Students' think-aloud protocols were then classified according to their cognitive processes. (Author/VWL)