A group of studies of children's understanding of narratives, the degree to which knowledge available in the child's first language is used in understanding second-language input, and the relationship between knowledge use in two languages as children become bilingual and acquire age-appropriate literacy skills are discussed. The subjects were…

This profile in outline form of the English language teaching situation in Thailand discusses the role of English within Thai society and within the educational system. Areas covered include English language requirements and English within the curriculum, teaching personnel and teacher training, instructional materials, English outside the…

This booklet is a guide to the various aspects of bilingual education. It consists of the following chapters: (1) "Sink or Swim Educational Approach" (which discusses the practice of ignoring the linguistic problems of non-English-speaking children in American schools), (2) "Bilingual Instruction" (the two methods of teaching English to linguistic…

The results of the evaluation of the French immersion program at a school in a unilingual English environment are described. A battery of tests was administered to a random sample of children from the kindergarten and grade one experimental French immersion classes and to a comparison group composed of children following the regular English…

Any decisions regarding the language of instruction will have long-term effects on the child's life both during and after his school years. Unfortunately, language is only one facet of the total problem. In any discussion of education involving people who are culturally and linguistically different, various factors come into play, factors which…

Describes five two-way bilingual education programs in Massachusetts: three in Boston, one in Holyoke, and one in Lawrence. Names and addresses of contact persons at each school are included. (PS)

Argues that Canadian Indians should establish their own universities and exert complete control over them. Compares higher education in Saudi Arabia and Nigeria, using Saudi Arabia as an example of a country that managed to reap the benefits of Western educational expertise without sacrificing its own culture and values. (JHZ)

This paper discusses three categories of languages in post-apartheid South Africa: high-status, low-status, and endangered. The first section presents demolinguistic profiles and their representation in the media, offering data on the relative numerical importance of the main languages used in South Africa and the average and proportional…

This collection of 24 papers focuses on language and society in South Africa. Part 1, "The Main Language Groupings," includes (1) "South Africa: A Sociolinguistic Overview" (R. Mesthrie); (2) "The Khoesan Languages" (A. Traill); (3) "The Bantu Languages: Sociohistorical Perspectives" (Robert K. Herbert and…

An examination of the language-related educational policies of South Asia, and particularly of India, finds that language policies among colonial administrators and the native elite for over a century has left a deep imprint on contemporary language ideologies of different nations. The discussion begins with a look at the Indian dual education…

Score linkages between the Verbal and Math sections of the SAT® I: Reasoning Test and the corresponding sections of the new version of a Spanish-language admissions test, the Prueba de Aptitud Academica® (PAA™) were investigated. A bilingual group design was employed. A language proficiency measure (ESLAT) was used to define the bilingual group…

Since Franco's death in 1975, one of Spain's most pressing problems has been how to encourage regional autonomy without destroying national unity. This paper considers how two regional groups--the Catalans and the Basques--are using the schools to promote use of their traditional languages and to strengthen ethnic identity. (Author/SJL)

Describes efforts of the Florida Division of Vocational Education to translate the Employability Skills Series into Spanish. Reports the findings of the field-test evaluation conducted on the Spanish version of the Employability Skills Series which found the materials were just as effective in Spanish. (LRA)

Discusses the methodological concepts of medium- and message-oriented communication and applies these concepts to conventional foreign language and bilingual content classrooms, with specific reference to English as a Second Language. Argues that the interplay between message- and medium-orientation is an important feature of both these…

Discusses problems associated with the implementation of mother tongue education in Zambia. Focus is on the sociolinguistic situation, language policy after independence, sociolinguistic implications, language use in different domains, language use and ethnic identity in Zambia, Kenya, and Tanzania, prospects for mother tongue education; bilingual…