This report assesses the state of the art of research into and accepted knowledge of "language in the classroom," particularly in Scotland. The discussion is organized in six sections: (1) language-related causes of educational failure and remedial programs set up with the intention of compensating for various kinds of deprivation; (2) attitudes toward language and language use; (3) social dialect differences and the effects of the contexts of the playground, the home, and the peer group; (4) classroom verbal interaction; (5) programs and materials for spoken language instruction; and (6) recommendations for types and areas of research. A lengthy bibliography is included. (AA)