This study investigates teachers' gestures produced during directive actions. I examine three particular gestures--pointing to the mouth, pointing to the ear, and cupping the ear-- that teachers frequently deployed when interacting with their deaf or hard-of-hearing students in an oral preschool classroom, a setting focused on spoken language and…

The gestures that occur alongside speech provide listeners with cues that both improve and alter memory for speech. The present research investigated the interplay of gesture and speech by examining the influence of retrieval on memory for gesture. In three experiments, participants watched video clips of an actor speaking a series of statements…

The Notation in Science Communication (NSC) provides students an opportunity to develop their abilities to effectively communicate technical information to varied audiences using multiple genres and modes. A total of 115 students have earned the NSC as of May 2023. Currently there are just over 100 students in the program, with between 40-50 new…

Parents of children who are newly identified as deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) face many decisions surrounding communication and intervention, including where to receive early intervention (EI) services. This study explored the experiences and perspectives of parents of DHH children enrolled in a center-based, family-centered EI program focused on…

This article discusses practical ways to incorporate theater concepts into the ESL classroom. The notion of a theater ensemble lends itself well to group work in language learning. I have used my experience auditioning, participating in theater games, and improv techniques to encourage second language learning through public speaking, group…

In this article, I explain how I used my interdisciplinary expertise in a TESOL classroom. The class consisted of 24 high-intermediate students ages 25 to 35, with a 65/35% male-to-female ratio. Of the students, 75% were Spanish speaking, while the remainder consisted of Farsi, Arabic, Hindi, Russian, Mandarin, Korean, and German speakers. The…

Since online educational technology can support a ubiquitous language learning environment, there are many ways to develop English learners' autonomy through self-access learning. This study investigates whether English as a second language (ESL) learners can improve their oral proficiency through independent study by using online self-study…

In the past quarter century, the nation's K-12 public schools have experienced a large influx of students who speak languages other than English. Research has shown that many factors affect how English learner (EL) students acquire English language skills, including their preparation before entering U.S. schools, their out-of-school environments,…

Throughout the world, interest in gauging learning outcomes at all levels of education has grown considerably over the past decade. In higher education, measuring "learning outcomes" is viewed by many stakeholders as a relatively new method to judge the "value added" of colleges and universities. The potential to accurately…

IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THE SPEAKING ABILITY OF THE STUDENT, TO HELP HIM DEVELOP READING AND WRITING SKILLS, AND TO AID HIM IN ACQUIRING BETTER TECHNIQUES IN SPANISH, SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE TO THE TEACHER REGARDING THE USE OF THIS VOLUME. SUCH SUGGESTIONS INCLUDE CHORAL AND DOUBLE REPETITION, A READING OF MATERIAL PREVIOUSLY MEMORIZED, AND A VARIED…

The research reported in this paper was conducted to assess the effect, if any, of school desegregation, as it occurred in 1966 in Riverside, California, on the speech habits and abilities of the children involved, and to assess the implication of these effects in relation to other psychological factors. Frequency count methods and California…

One provision of the Ryan Act, a legislative move intended to improve teacher training programs in California, was the requirement that all teacher candidates be examined for competence in both speaking and oral reading. To ascertain how shools of higher education across that state were dealing with this provision, a questionnaire was sent to 38…

Examines verbal and nonverbal communications employed in Hispanic families to correct children's speech and nonverbal behaviors, examining the interactions across various settings. Data come from video recordings taken in natural settings in Hispanic communities. Generally, parents employed unmodulated corrections and bald imperatives to direct…

Spanish-speaking children of Mexican descent living in California were tested on the acquisition of 18 Spanish consonants. The 120 subjects (aged 3 to 5:7 years) were equally divided into eight age groups, and the median ages (50%) and upper age limits (90%) of customary production of each consonant were determined. (Author/JDD)

The Language Profile of Bilingual Students in California was undertaken to determine: (1) students' range of performance on specific language tasks across four age groups in both Spanish and English; (2) the relationship of this performance to proficiency on two tests currently used in California; (3) how the development of the two languages…