National evaluation of Head Start bilingual curriculum development project indicated bilingual children receiving bilingual preschool services made greater preschool gains than comparison group children receiving regular English-language preschool services; English-preferring children placed in bilingual classrooms achieved similar preschool…

Four primary classrooms, three bilingual and one monolingual, were studied. Final observations showed that "language climate" and the extent to which the two languages developed were influenced by the teacher's style, the organization of the school day, and by the ethnic balance of the class and the neighborhood. (SJL)

Affirms the advantages to the child of early immersion second language learning programs. The second language proficiency of English-speaking Canadian students who received all instruction in French and English-speaking American children who received all instruction in Spanish surpassed that of students in more traditional language programs. (PMJ)

Discusses the relationships among bilingual education, biliteracy, diglossia, and native language maintenance. Pedagogical research in Latin American indigenous languages and Navajo indicate that indigenous language literacy instruction and bilingual methods also contribute significantly to literacy development in the national language (English or…

Presents the results of research examining the argument that the use of a pidgin or creole will interfere with students' subsequent acquisition of the standard language. The study evaluated a preschool program in Papua New Guinea that uses Melanesian Pidgin English as the medium of instruction for students who later attend an English-medium…

Identifies major differences and similarities between educational change during Hong Kong's political transition and during postcolonial transitions elsewhere. Notes that parallel operation of multiple education systems in one country is quite common, and that Hong Kong educational reforms began well ahead of political transition. Examines…

Reports a study that examined the attitudes of students, parents, and teachers toward school and community issues in Nulato, a remote Athapaskan village, noting changes in attitude between 1983 and 1992. Results suggested the community valued the maintenance of cultural heritage, and cultural and language restoration were becoming high priorities…

Discusses short extracts from essays written by first-year undergraduates following an English-as-a-Second-Language medium humanities curriculum at the University of Hong Kong. Some of the wording reflected unintended knowledge claims. Feedback sessions on students' essays looked into ways in which a writer's factual or evaluative claims might be…

Reports results from "Characters Online" a telecommunications in education project. Participating college students impersonated characters in children's books in electronic mail communications over the Internet with elementary school students reading the equivalent books. Both groups engaged frequently in informal conversation and rarely used…

Demonstrates the presence of a minority group elite in the contemporary bilingual education movement. The bilingual education program elite insists that students of limited English proficiency be taught exclusively in bilingual education programs and only by certified bilingual teachers even though bilingual education has not been demonstrated to…

Presents a list of techniques and principles for encouraging respect for individual differences in the nursery school. Guidelines for both speech and action are provided. (BB)

Examines implications for educational policy formation of Hong Kong's 1997 return to China. Discusses the economic interdependence of Hong Kong and China; the potential for educational policy to reconcile or heighten the contradictions among capitalism, socialism, and patriotism; and the crisis of cultural identity among Hong Kong youth. (SV)

Summaries of six language-related research projects are presented from Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. Topics include English as the instructional medium, teacher's use of language, Tamil language management, standardizing texts, cross-cultural business negotiations, and assessment of English language needs in computer science. (LB)

Puts forth some ideas to help American educators help Tibetan children in the United States learn in concert with their culture. Instruction in Tibetan language and history, the Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and religion, and opportunities to practice the Tibetan language are required. The inability to preserve Tibetan culture is a real challenge…

Focuses on the issue of Black native languages in the educational system in the context of curricular reforms emanating from the multicultural education movement. Examines how multicultural education has dealt with the needs and concerns of African Americans and Haitians. Looks at well-publicized African American and Haitian educational events in…