Investigates differences in reading acquisition processes between Dutch and Turkish children learning to read Dutch. Finds that both groups rely on comparable reading strategies. Presents a structural model to examine interactions between the various reading processes in Dutch. Suggests that children learning to read in a second language should…

Investigation of the predictive ability of motivational and attitudinal factors in high school students' continuation of foreign language study revealed that both factors, as well as grade level, course grade, interest in culture, and interest in fulfilling college entrance requirements, distinguished continuing from discontinuing students. (29…

Research in bilingual education remains underdeveloped, and despite 20 years of classroom experience, curricular and methodological refinements, and gains in student achievement, there is continued skepticism about its effectiveness. Contends there has been overreliance on simplistic and ill-designed evaluation research and urges instead basic…

Reports two-year sociolinguistic study of English use by five immigrant children. Observational findings compare "substantial" and "minimal" English contacts by experienced children. Illustrates benefits and hindrances to English learning, and how contacts depend principally on children's English abilities. Discusses English…

Ten principles of interactive language teaching and learning link language pedagogy today with that of fifty years ago. Topics discussed include: (1) student as language learner; (2) language learning and teaching; (3) classroom communication; (4) knowledge and control of language; (5) testing; and (6) scope of language teaching. (MSE)

Discusses how the state of language learning in Britain relates to the establishment of a Single European Market. It is suggested that industry underestimates the time needed for language and culture study. A focus on languages other than French and early exposure to foreign languages and cultures is needed. (Author/LMO)

Develops a critique of the "special diglossia" idea: the notion that Navajos speak Navajo but read and write English. Describes uses for English and Navajo literacy in one community on the Navajo reservation. Applies concepts such as institution, ideology, power, and empowerment to these uses. (JS)

Discusses the seed concepts constraint (SCC) principle, which suggests that the seed concepts in the intrasententially code-switched speech of the bilingual are marked in the phonetics of the first language in contradistinction to the second language. It is suggested that the SCC suffices to replace various particularistic grammatical claims…

An overview of the current status of Chinese language instruction in the United States focuses on trends in enrollment, interest in foreign language study, relevance of the less commonly taught languages, and instructional methods and materials. Solutions to long-standing problems in Chinese language study are included. (CB)

Follows up on a study by Dagut and Laufer (1985), who found that Hebrew learners of English avoid phrasal verbs. Three tests (multiple choice, memorization, and translation) were administered to Dutch learners of English to determine whether Dutch learners would tend not to avoid English phrasal verbs because they do not exist in Dutch. (Author/OD)

Examination of factors underlying cross-language transfer in metaphor interpretation among bilingual (Spanish-English) 7- to 12-year-olds indicated that metaphor interpretation ability was higher in the older subjects. The level of metaphor interpretation was most strongly related to cognitive-developmental variables that were interdependent…

A comparison of the French language proficiency of high school students taking the Advanced Placement (AP) Examination for French against college students in their sixth semester of French study found that the college students did slightly less well than the high school students. AP grading standards were more stringent than those used by college…

Outlines the history of semantically based programs that have influenced the design of computer assisted language instruction (CALI) programs. Describes early attempts to make intelligent CALI as well as current projects, including the Foreign Language Adventure Game, developed at the University of Delaware. Describes some important…

Investigation of the retention of school-learned French language skills in Dutch students over a period of four years following training revealed that global receptive skills actually improved. Only lexical and grammatical skills attrited, although students' self-perception of their skill retention was much more negative. (Author/JR)

A study compared the effect of reading aloud to grade two French immersion students with that of participation in the normal language arts curriculum during a three-month period. Reading aloud was found to be a simple but effective adjunct to formal teaching methods for accelerating second language acquisition. (29 references) (Author/MSE)