A Los Angeles bilingual elementary school was evaluated for the effectiveness of its dual reading program for bilingual first graders, the effectiveness of the native language literacy approach for Spanish dominants, and evidence of bias in the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS). One hundred thirty-one Spanish and English dominant children…

Discusses the progress made and problems still surrounding Greenland's Home Rule Act which established the roles of Greenlandic and Danish in the instructional arena, covering attempts to make Greenlandic the native language while also encouraging bilingualism through mastery of Danish. (Author/CB)

Illustrates how major Cree language instruction books are not idiomatically and syntactically correct. Believes problems could be overcome if native speakers using spontaneous, everyday Cree would develop appropriate teaching materials based on traditional and contemporary family life and community activities. (NEC)

This article looks at the relevance of linguistic and psycholinguistic studies to mother tongue instruction. Particularly, the semantically-oriented research of higher level units of language and speech, is considered. As some Estonian studies imply, there are indications that the application of psycholinguistic research in teaching practices…

This paper discusses the use of technology in instruction. It begins by examining research on technology and indigenous languages, focusing on the use of technology to get community attention for an indigenous language, improve the quantity of quality language, document spoken language, create sociocultural learning contexts, improve study skills,…

This paper discusses the context of indigenous language education in western Canada, the hope of language revitalization, and the role of the Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute (CILLDI) in reclaiming and stabilizing these languages. CILLDI was established in 1999 by a collective of language advocates and educators who…

This volume compiles 11 papers indicative of the new directions that indigenous education is taking in North America. Three sections focus on language, culture, and teaching; indigenous perspectives on indigenous education; and issues surrounding teaching methods. The papers are: (1) "Teaching Dine Language and Culture in Navajo Schools: Voices…

The paper investigates how adult immigrants with low literacy levels are being taught language skills in Northern Virginia and the District of Columbia. Particular attention is paid to the reasons why large English-as-a-Second-Language programs (ESL) in the area do not offer native language literacy (NLL) courses and why some students seek NLL…

Aligned with its 1998 standards for first and second language learning, Alberta Learning has published lesson plans that aim for a closer relationship between learning and evaluation. Each volume in this series presents a specific task for students that involves planning, carrying out and evaluating their work. The task for ninth grade students…

Elements of recent national educational reform in Yugoslavia that contribute to the integration of native and foreign language instruction are outlined, touching on instructional techniques for phonology, communicative competence, written and oral expression and comprehension, vocabulary acquisition, and grammar. (MSE)

The thesis of the article is that learning to read developmentally through the native language at the critical reading age can turn the reading handicap of Hispanic and other bilingual children into the asset of literacy in two languages. (Author/NQA)

Examines the issue of meaningful education for Creole-speaking students, particularly Haitians, in the context of U.S. bilingual programs. The discussion focuses on the home language, Creole, as it is used in the school system and what the value is attached to it in an attempt to provide these students with effective instruction. (41 references)…

In 10 families in which parents spoke Navajo and children did not, factors that inhibited the transmittal of Navajo to children were the use of English at home, shame toward the Navajo language and culture, the perception that a "glass ceiling" hindered the job advancement of Navajo speakers, and influence of the media. Suggests ways to…

Discusses the different varieties of Spanish, the decision of which variety to teach to native speakers, and the concept of a "standard" usage. Basing the decision on sociolinguistic research, this article proposes a spoken and written variety of Spanish to be employed in teaching native speakers in the United States. (Author/JL)

Data from three well-documented American Indian language immersion programs (teaching Navajo, Hawaiian, and Keres) and from an ongoing large comparative study of language shift/retention in six Indian school-community sites suggest that immersion schooling can serve the dual roles of promoting students' school success and revitalizing endangered…