Focuses on the uses of the Wiz Electronic Translator, a plastic linguistic gadget that promised more than it was capable of delivering. (Author/CK)

Examined acquisition of the mass/count distinction in English. Results indicated that at 7 years bilinguals did not infer from the linguistic context whether new nouns referred to objects or a substance. By 9 years, bilinguals who were strong in English responded similarly to monolingual peers, but bilinguals with lower English abilities still…

Discusses the form and use of learning contracts in second- language teaching and learning. It is suggested that learning contracts are an ideal means to offer language learners greater opportunities to work toward, and achieve, individual goals. (Author/JL)

Studied the factors that govern immigrants' acquisition of a second language through 22 interviews with illiterate Kurdish refugees in Sweden and immigrants with at least 6 years of schooling. The pedagogic conclusions that can be drawn relate mainly to measures for increasing motivation and the need for achieving greater contact with target…

A hybrid approach to second-language learning combined face-to-face contact with online tools. Lessons learned included the need for innovative recruitment methods, clear and accessible precourse information, solutions to technical difficulties in public access sites, and high-quality training for tutors. (SK)

Examined the effect of story presentation rates on story recall performance in 35 individuals with Down Syndrome and three groups. Three audiotaped stories presented to each individual at three different rates. The effect of group but not rate was significant. Individuals with Down Syndrome recalled more content than the production-matched group…

Explores notions of success in second language acquisition in terms of social interaction and linguistic inventory. two English-speaking boys, ages 5 and 7 acquired German or one year in an immersion context. Data show that both boys developed the ability to participate successfully in all aspects of the interaction. Suggests linguistic…

The issue of voice, authorial identity, or authorial presence in second language (L2) writing has recently received considerable attention from second language researchers. Such research has concluded that voice is an integral part of writing and that it should become an essential component of second language writing pedagogy. This article…

Looks at the general effects of bilingualism on cognitive development and highlights the specific effects of bilingualism on third language acquisition. Examines effects of bilingualism on cognitive development, metalinguistic awareness, and communicative skills, then focuses on the specific effects of bilingualism on third language proficiency by…

Cites research that the typical second language classroom experience of literature is indeed a task rather than a pleasure. Asks whether pleasure and learner-centeredness cannot be developed further than is usually the case to maximize the potential of literature for second language learners. (Author/VWL)

Shows different ways in which a poem can be exploited in the English-as-a-Second/Foreign-Language classroom. (Author/VWL)

This article was originally published in 1968 (Foreign Language Annals; v1 n3). It defines and describes culture in terms that will be meaningful to classroom teachers of foreign languages, especially in the earlier phases of instruction. Identifies a list of proposals that invite discussion and development of the meanings of culture leading to…

Discusses frequency effects in language acquisition. Provides an example of how frequency may relate to grammatical judgments of nonnative speakers acquisition of multiple wh-questions. (Author/VWL)

Responds to Ellis (2002), which focuses on frequency in language processing, language use, and language acquisition. Suggests his findings are consistent with those of second language acquisition researchers working with a variationist framework. Provides a brief overview of this research area and describes a psycholinguistic model of language…

Discusses articles contained in this special issue of the journal, raising issues concerning key terms, with particular emphasis on "incidental." Argues there is no clear way to show that a word has been learned incidentally, if the suggestion is that specific attention is not drawn to that word either by some external force or by the learner.…