Comparison of the reading strategies and resulting reading comprehension and recall of native and advanced non-native adult speakers of Japanese found that reading strategy significantly affected comprehension and recall, with non-native readers with limited language command paying more attention to vocabulary and grammar than native readers, who…

Investigates the progress and achievement of primary (N=20) and secondary (N=20) school English-as-a-Second-Language students in a large urban school district in Western Canada. Results suggest that assumptions that students can achieve language proficiency in a maximum of three years are unrealistic. (Author/CB)

Proposes to examine reading problems by means of discourse analysis of students' translations. The study is based on two previous experiments in which first-year university students translated English texts into their native language (Hebrew or Arabic). (37 references) (Author/VWL)

Examines the effect of simplified reading materials on writing skills of 10-year-old English-as-a-Second-Language students in England. Finds no increase in students' expressive resources but does find a consolidating effect on command of the language system. Relates results to Krashen's model of second language acquisition. (RS)

A study revealed two problems that influence Australian students' attitudes toward the learning of Indonesian. Internal problems related to use of teaching facilities. External problems included (1) lack of knowledge about Indonesia in Queensland, (2) lack of awareness of importance of learning Indonesian, (3) marginal position of Indonesian in…

Analysis of data collected from 200 Hispanic adults enrolled in large urban English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs identified four factors that serve as a basis for a tentative typology of low-literacy Hispanic adults' participation in ESL programs, including: (1) self/school incongruence; (2) low self-confidence; (3) lack of access to…

Discusses problems with the current trend in using behavior trait-based criteria to assess English-as-a-Second-Language productivity skills, and describes alternatives to such testing that involve the matching of linguistic tasks against nonlinguistic criteria. (Author/CB)

An examination found no significant differences between timed- and untimed-essay test scores of adolescent students of English as a Second Language. Results suggest that there is a need for more expansive research regarding sample size and age, different time limits, students' educational backgrounds, writing skill training, communicative aims,…

Discusses why there has been a decline in the political and educational pressure to learn languages other than English in Australia. Recent political, economic, and educational changes are outlined that encourage the study of European and Asian languages. (Author/CB)

Reports on a study that focused on the mental processes second-language learners use in listening comprehension, the strategies they use in different phases of comprehension, and the differences in strategy use between students designated by their teachers as effective and ineffective listeners. Findings are related to implications for…

Discusses the importance of lecturers of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) establishing channels of communication with content lecturers as content lecturers have the responsibility of introducing students to and training them in a particular profession. Approaches are suggested for moving from the conventional field of ESP and emphasizing…

Suggests that the difficulties encountered by Westerners in learning Chinese are the result of native language interference, and interference caused by different customs and ways of thinking. A contrastive analysis of the different cultural aspects of Chinese and Western ways of thinking is presented. (VWL)

The challenges faced by deaf students learning English are very different from those of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students. These differences include the amount of linguistic input, motivation, language attitudes, and the use of a visual-spatial language. (38 references) (Author/CB)

A critique of a previously published article about artificial intelligence-based models for English-as-a-Second-Language instruction points out the author's failure to distinguish clearly between expert systems and connectionist models. In response, the author attempts to clarify his understanding of the usefulness of the models. (CB)

Analyzed some factors affecting acquisition of subjunctive by upper level students of Spanish. Variables included were 1) length of foreign residence; 2) total amount of formal study; and 3) pretest and posttest scores. A week-long lesson on the uses of subjunctive intervened between the tests. Tests are appended. (LMO)