This study explores whether different types of hypermedia annotations facilitate reading comprehension for intermediate and advanced ESL learners. Data was collected from 84 intermediate and advanced level adult ESL learners using a tracking tool that recorded the amount of time readers spent on a given annotation. An expository text was annotated…

This study assessed the efficacy of a pronunciation training program that provided fundamental frequency contours as visual feedback to native English speakers acquiring Japanese pitch and durational contrasts. Native English speakers who had previously studied Japanese for 1-5 years in the United States participated in training using Kay…

Discusses major issues pending in the Second Session of the 104th Congress, noting the impact on language education and focusing on educational reform agendas, recissions, the budget process, appropriations, and English as the official U.S. government language. Individuals in related professional organizations are urged to take steps to influence…

Discusses what is known and done about bilingualism in early childhood education, highlighting Australia's language education experience. Notes that bilingualism can enhance child development, but the needs of bilingual Australian children are often ignored so their potential bilingualism is lost or underdeveloped. Their language-learning programs…

The U.S. is participating in an international comparative survey of language education with over 30 other countries. Phase one will examine the teaching of Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and English-as-a-Second-Language, noting the social, political, and educational context of language education. Phase two will test students and collect data…

Presents information on early language learning in Germany, describing reasons why German students need to start learning other languages early in their education, noting appropriate conditions for early language programs, and presenting goals for early foreign-language learning generated by Germany's Children Learn European Languages Association.…

Examines the benefits of language laboratories for learning Japanese. After reviewing related literature and selected issues on educational technology, the article presents results from a survey of Australian college students using a language laboratory. Overall, students appreciated and were positive about the language laboratory, though some had…

Offering boys greater choice over what they learn may help address their underachievement in modern languages. However, they may not profit from this unless they are given explicit guidelines regarding how to go about their learning. The article discusses the effects of social and educational contexts, student motivation, learning strategies,…

Examines British national examination results and related trends in the declining level of performance in modern languages relative to other subjects, suggesting that this trend to underperform in modern languages may be due in part to the relative difficulty of the examinations. The paper proposes strategies to help teachers become more rigorous…

Proposes to strengthen the theoretical basis supporting hypermedia computer-assisted language-learning (CALL) authoring by initiating a requirements analysis based on contextualized conceptual and mental models, presenting the theoretical dimension of knowledge representations within the authoring process and applying the theoretical approach to…

Examines the role of American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) guidelines in language proficiency testing, focusing on Japanese language instruction and discussing how effective that system is in relation to university classroom instruction. Two main issues are addressed: viewing ACTFL Proficiency Tests as having the…

Reviews principles for hardware selection, and forecasts the state of technology in terms of fidelity, feedback, and open architecture in language training. (six references) (GLR)

Examines the rating scale and the testing procedure of the oral interview for evidence of discourse competence. The paper suggests that a careful examination of the processing capabilities might serve as a valid indicator of their discourse competence. (24 references) (GLR)

Suggests that, to understand the relationship between grammatical competence and actual communicative language use, a model is needed of classroom language processing that considers learners' own connections between meaning and form as a major factor in language use and language acquisition. (nine references) (GLR)

Discusses the issues related to the testing of listening comprehension in the context of the 1986 American Council Teaching Foreign Language Proficiency Guidelines. Four issues are singled out: the meaning of context in testing listening; the concept of criterion-referenced tests; the notion of specific purposes in testing; and the use of…