A foreign language curriculum is described that was designed especially for students enrolled in a master's in business education program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The program's goals are for students: (1) to attain a high-intermediate level of proficiency in speaking, listening, and reading in the target language; and…

The Galbahe Language Tests C1 and C2 measure the Spanish language proficiency of children aged 7 to 8 years (C1) and those aged 10 to 11 years (C2). Equivalent tests E1 and E2 measure the Basque language achievement of the same age groups, respectively. Both tests were designed as part of a study of teaching of the Basque language in parts of…

A study of the relationship between university-level second language development and previous language and other experience is described. The study, in its early stages at the time of writing, is being conducted at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, and involves students of French, German, Italian, and Spanish. This report describes the subjects…

A collection of works concerning classroom research methodology, learner strategies and variables, teacher speech, teacher and learner feedback, and second language classroom communication has been compiled. It includes: "What Is Classroom Oriented Research?" (Herbert W. Seliger and Michael H. Long); "Inside the 'Black Box': Methodological Issues…

This paper is another installment in the ongoing project on early language learning in a Japanese FLES program, conducted by ELLRT (Early Language Learning Research Team): Richard Donato and G. Richard Tucker with graduate students from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh. The Japanese instructor in this FLES program, Yoko…

The Common European Framework describes language proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening on a six-level scale. The Framework provides a common language with which to discuss students' progress. This report describes a study conducted with two panels of English language experts to map scores from four tests that collectively assess…

A college student of intermediate to advanced English as a second language (ESL) is still constantly trying to identify the rules governing the language and making and correcting mistakes. Sociolinguistic theory can help to understand this type of active, advanced learner and the instructional strategies that complement this learning style. Four…

Two issues relevant to the effectiveness of media used in second language literacy instruction were addressed in this study: learner-selected versus teacher-assigned media, and media that appeal to learners' preferred perceptual modes compared with media that do not match preferred modes. A group of 47 preliterate Hmong refugees between the ages…

The English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) video recording project was designed to use student-produced videotape recordings to help 120 limited-English-speaking students learn to speak, read, and write English. Staff participated in a series of workshops on video program development and production techniques. Four classes developed video productions,…

A collection of essays addresses aspects of the integration of limited-English-speaking students into the regular classroom. The articles include: "A Quality Program for Learners of English as a Second Language" (Jean Handscombe); "I Grow for a Living" (Carole Urzua); "The Classroom: A Good Environment for Language…

This resource guide, for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) literacy facilitators, reviews a variety of resources for ESL literacy. The guide contains three sections. The first section cites four books that provide a theoretical context for literacy work: "Ah-Hah! A New Approach to Popular Education" (Gatt-Fly); "Approaches and Methods in Language…

A discussion of Paulo Freire's contemporary pedagogy looks at the philosophy underlying the approach in the context of traditional educational philosophy. Freire's pedagogy of the oppressed, Liberatory Learning, which was originally developed as a reponse to illiteracy among Brazilian peasants, also holds significance for other culture and…

Objective and subjective analysis of trade trends, political and economic developments, and the anticipated effects of world-wide energy policies suggest that certain languages will become central to future international trade. Three language categories emerge, in descending order of importance. The first includes languages of the Orient: Japan,…

This handbook was created to prepare teachers who will work in non-credit English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs that are typically offered as a part of a larger Adult Basic Education (ABE) program. The handbook is designed to help these teachers to know which skills are included in language learning, the relative importance of these skills,…

The techniques used in teaching spoken and written English must be re-evaluated, and more effort should be directed toward helping individuals develop adequate ways of acquiring language skills. Classroom models that confront students with texts they cannot read effectively, and that compel them to repeat words and sentences in a chorus should be…