The effect of second language experience and vocabulary ability was investigated in a semantic priming experiment with weakly related English word pairs (e.g., "city"-"grass"). Participants made lexical decisions to targets preceded by unrelated or weakly related primes or to nonword targets preceded by words. Reliable priming was found for…

Acquiring proficiency in different discourse genres involves an awareness of which syntactic structures are the most appropriate to the communicative context and purpose. This article examines two scientific research genres--conference proceedings articles and conference presentations--and compares the syntactic behaviour of a group of native…

The role of metalinguistic knowledge in learning a foreign/second language is the subject of continuing debate. In this paper we report on a study which explores this issue further with reference to undergraduate students of Chinese as a second/foreign language. The first part of the paper describes the process of developing and validating an…

EFL students of English literature face the substantial challenge of making sense of literary texts written in a foreign language. EFL teachers working with these students need to understand the problems that they face and develop ways of helping them to overcome them. This article focuses on metaphor in literature and on whether awareness raising…

The focus in studies of language awareness in L2 learning generally has been on the efficacy of teacher-generated attention to discrete elements of the forms of language through the manipulation of texts or corrective feedback. The study reported in this paper engaged learners in a collaborative task that involved learner-generated attention to…

This article briefly reviews recent research on teaching phonological awareness skills to preschoolers as well as the benefits of different types of bilingual education. A more in-depth analysis of research on cross-language transfer of phonological awareness/metalinguistic skills follows. The major recommendation resulting from this review is…

This article reports on a study which investigated the effects of correction of learners' grammatical errors on acquisition. Specifically, it compared the effects of timing of correction (immediate versus delayed correction) and manner of correction (explicit versus implicit correction). It also investigated the relative effects of correction of…

Language awareness activities appear to give new breath to intercultural approaches within Swiss schools. They allow children to be involved in language by comparing languages, sharing knowledge, and reflecting on language structures and functions. Children develop a rudimentary research approach to languages, and begin to understand that their…

Addresses two alternative questions: (1) Are there important characteristics, similarities and parallels between the various concepts of language awareness (LA) that have been unduly overlooked by the continental followers of British LA? (2) Has the term LA and the British concept behind it added a new dimension to European language…

Explores the interrelationships between linguistic awareness and language awareness (LA) with regard to second-language teaching and learning in Canada. The article argues that findings from research studies on linguistic awareness can inform practices in LA. Results call for explanations grounded cognitively, socially, and culturally. (22…

Explores the relationship between Hong Kong secondary school English teachers' metalinguistic awareness and the ability to explain a grammar point. Teachers of different backgrounds and experience were asked to role play a grammar point on two separate occasions; videotapes of the role plays were transcribed and analyzed. (13 references)…

Addresses the central issues related to phonemic awareness as a way to articulate the relationship between phonemic awareness, phonological awareness, meta-linguistic awareness, and overall literacy development. Presents key research findings and discusses developmentally appropriate practices for kindergarten and primary education, intervention…

Investigates the language choice and code switching behavior of the councilors and officials in the Legislative Council of Hong Kong during 1991-95, within the context of the upcoming transfer of sovereignty in 1997 and the challenges to the old political power relationship. Points out that code switching behavior is part of the negotiation…

A study of 141 children (ages 4-5) with language impairments and a study of 120 children (ages 7-12) with oral language and/or reading problems, indicate a relationship between the processing of phonological and semantactic linguistic information and performance on oral language and reading tests three years later. (Author/CR)

Examines the qualities and frequency of episodes of concurrent metalinguistic and ideational thinking reported verbally by second-language learners while they composed. Finds frequencies of thinking episodes is significantly related to learners' writing expertise in their mother tongue. Argues for integrating the notion of comprehensible output…