The Indonesian language learning program for foreign speakers (BIPA) is currently the government's focus in its efforts to internationalize Indonesian as the language of international communication. BIPA students will learn four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The selection of attractive learning media will ease them in…

This paper focuses on job transitions and professional development of immigrants in the United States. Using narrative as a method and exploring Bulgarian immigrants' personal experience stories, this report shares some of the findings from the author's dissertation. Upon coming to the United States, the Bulgarian immigrants experienced a…

This study of eleven young North Korean Defectors (NKDs) examines how they engage in daily learning focusing on the process of identity reconstruction through their attempt to engage in career development activities. For the purposes of this paper one case was selected to illustrate how a reconstructed identity is learned. The main research…

The author examines gaps in services, especially vocational services, to handicapped adolescents and outlines priorities (including working with families and other community agencies) for meeting those needs. Trends in vocational and career education are reviewed, and the adolescents' socialization needs are addressed. (CL)

Although it has been suggested that an understanding of shyness may come from a better understanding of social anxiety, there is no hard evidence that shy people are in fact socially anxious. To explore the link between shyness and social anxiety, a 297-item questionnaire was administered to 302 college students. Analysis of the 100 questionnaire…

The authors describe difficulties encountered by learning disabled (LD) students and summarize ways LD young adults have learned to cope with daily problems. The importance of understanding their problems, seeking out sensitive professionals, developing strategies to cope with classroom demands, and obtaining counseling are stressed. Strategies…

History, tradition, culture, and superstition have played significant roles in influencing Chinese attitudes toward the mentally retarded. China's overwhelmingly rural, agricultural society has made it dependent upon a huge force of semi-skilled and unskilled labor, to which the retarded are capable of contribution. The stress on self-reliance,…

The attitudes of 26 physically handicapped and 26 nonhandicapped university students were compared in terms of social adjustment, instructional goals desired, and acceptance/rejection of handicap. Ss were administered three instruments: the Is of Identity, a measure of social adjustment; the Preferred Student Characteristic Scale, an evaluation of…

This study examined gender differences in the correlates of different types of nonsocial play behaviors. Seventy-seven kindergarten children (38 males, 39 females) were observed during free play. Behaviors were categorized according to three subtypes of nonsocial play: reticent, solitary-passive, and solitary-active. Additional measures included…

The paper presents case studies of two severely and profoundly retarded adults at an activity center in which training is aimed at motor development and its impact on social adjustment as well as independent functioning. In each instance, an individualized program and home component were designed. Appended are Ss' evaluation data on charts of…

Investigated how individuals perceive others who systematically vary in both level of disclosure and disclosure flexibility. Subjects were 52 students rated high or low in self-disclosure and disclosure flexibility. Found a similarity effect for disclosure flexibility and highest ratings for medium-high disclosure and high disclosure flexibility…

A problem with gerontology theory is that it focuses on a social view of the aged, ignoring individual and cultural variables. A person is judged to have aged successfully if he has adjusted to society's definition of an "elderly person." Similarly, most studies of programs and options for the aged reflect the view of the service…

Little is known about the reverse culture shock experience of Americans who have lived abroad. Many of these Americans are dependent youth who, after completing high school abroad, return to the United States for college; reverse culture shock may impact the academic experiences of these returnees. This study (n=66) examined the relationships…

A study examined the impact of TV viewing motivations on 126 Asian students' psychological and sociocultural adjustment. Subjects were enrolled in a midsize university in the New England area. TV viewing motivation was measured by A. M. Rubin's TV Viewing Motivations Scale. Psychological adjustment was measured by W. Zung's Self Rating Depression…

The development of a social skills curriculum for elementary-age emotionally disturbed children is described. Based on classroom observations leading to a list of 20 behaviors considered important for classroom adjustment and learning success (e.g., sitting still in a group, not disturbing others, and working independently), the program consists…