Describes the implementation of a "cyclic," practical model-based syllabus in a short pre-service teacher training course. Makes a case for an overt model-based approach to initial teacher training, with reference to recent developments in cognitive psychology. Research carried out on a model-based approach is presented. (Author/VWL)

Describes personal construct psychology (PCP) and looks at two studies that apply to the English language teaching area. One deals with trainee teachers' perceptions of effectiveness, and the other with the curriculum. Concludes with a consideration of the value of PCP as an applied linguistic research framework. (Author/VWL)

Compares Chinese Students' listening comprehension rates for video texts using a variety of techniques: advance organizers, captions, a combination of both, and none of the foregoing. Results showed that more effective comprehension occurred when a combination of techniques were used. (Author/VWL)

Examined effects of captioned videotapes on advanced university English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL)students' listening word recognition. Videotaped materials consisted of episodes from two educational television programs. Found that availability of captions significantly improved ESL students' ability to recognize words on the videotapes that also…

Focuses on the connections goal of the national standards for foreign language learning--that is, on the integration of interdisciplinary content and language skills. Proposes a developmental model for content-oriented instruction that moves students from familiar to unfamiliar academic and cultural content while taking into account their language…

Examined language learning background features in relation to overall grade, rate of progress, and completion of an intensive English program. Determined extent to which success could be accurately predicted by an expert system when basing inferences on feature constellations including language learning background features only, entry proficiency…

Describes an experimental program that includes adjunct support designed to promote access to postsecondary education for more English-as-a-Second-Language students. (Author/VWL)

Describes a class project that included a literature search, observation of the Hale-Bopp comet, planning and building a model solar system, and presentation of the model in class. Finds that bilingual students in the class made significant progress in their learning of concepts and the acquisition of English as a result of completing the project.…

Reports on a study that investigated the beliefs about language learning of 202 English-as-Foreign-Language (EFL) students and 4 EFL teachers in the English department at the City University of Hong Kong. The main aim of the study was to determine if the differences between students and teacher beliefs about language learning affect proficiency.…

Investigates use of a computer-assisted language learning (CALL) dictionary and how well words looked up are remembered. The dictionary information has been incorporated into a CALL program that was comprised of a text, highlighted low-frequency words, and provided access to different lexical information about these words. Subjects were…

Reports on an activity carried out with upper-intermediate and advanced level English-as-Second-Language learners to help them increase their word-meaning awareness and expand their active vocabulary. (Author/VWL)

This action research investigated the problem of college students' participation in German class, examining how to engage students in focusing on form when grammar and accuracy held no interest for them. The action research showed how collaborative work could inform a teacher's perception of classroom events, leading to definable changes and…

Interviewed German and American employees to investigate cultural differences at the workplace, examining their views on culture clash and collecting examples of situations involving miscommunication due to cultural differences. Employees described differences in such areas as work atmospheres, working hours, thinking styles, greetings, work pace,…

Addresses the challenges faced in developing a task-based language assessment instrument for adult immigrants in Canada that is accountable to the needs of diverse groups of stakeholders, including learners, teachers, and administrators. The test, the Canadian Language Benchmarks Assessment (CLBA), is designed to place adult newcomers in language…

Investigates the academic success of bilingual primary school children from various language backgrounds in a monolingual Greek Cypriot-speaking school environment and their mastery of modern Greek by comparison with their monolingual counterparts. Examines whether these children face any problems of socialization, adjustment, and cultural…