This study investigates achievement in second language learning (Chinese) in primary school in relation to learner variables such as amount and duration of instruction and home language background. Currently in the State of Victoria it is recommended that all students learn a second language from the beginning of primary school to the end of Year…

In May 1993, 1,060 people in England and Wales were surveyed on the use of basic skills in everyday life. Data obtained from these questionnaires were weighted to reflect the demographic profile of the population in terms of age, gender, working status, and social class. Interviewees were asked 40 questions about activities they had done in the 7…

It is suggested that Chinese students in China and Chinese Americans have difficulty learning to read in English due to native language interference and to cultural traits and thinking patterns. Reading in English requires overcoming some psychological barriers. A chart outlines the different ways in which a Chinese student would read the same…

This book discusses what can be done to extend literacy and raise literacy standards for all sections of the population, the relationship between home learning and school learning, and the role of parents in their children's education, focusing on the situation in England. It is designed to assist teachers who work cooperatively with parents in…

This guide is designed for use by instructors and tutors at the M. L. Sultan Technikon (South Africa) for teaching students of English as a Second Language or students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds. It provides assistance in teaching academic language and study skills in the context of course content. The underlying philosophy is…

A project in Thailand to develop domain-referenced English language tests for use with Thai secondary and college students is described. The first phase consisted of developing standardized tests for listening, speaking, reading, and writing based on existing syllabuses, determining the common levels of English proficiency in those domains, and…

These instructional materials are companions to the British Broadcasting Company's television series called "Stepping Up" and "Step Up to Wordpower," first broadcast in October and November 1989, respectively. They are intended to help adults prepare for the British certificate of qualification in communication skills. An…

Intended for students taking the English 30 Grade 12 Diploma Examinations in Alberta, Canada, this test booklet contains the composition component of the June 1988 tests. During 2.5 hours, students are required to perform the following writing tasks: (1) a personal response to an excerpt from Annie Dillard's "Teaching a Stone to Talk"…

This booklet provides samples of student writing that exemplify the standards that governed the scoring of student essays on the June 1988 English 30 Diploma Examination. Both major and minor writing assignments for seven students are provided, with examples of the full range of student writing. Commentaries accompanying the essays highlight…

This booklet provides samples of student writing that exemplify the standards that governed the scoring of student essays on the June 1988 English 33 Diploma Examination. Both major and minor writing assignments for seven students are provided, with examples of the full range of student writing. The English 33, Part A, Written Response requires…

The Bradford Book Flood--an experiment in which large numbers of additional books were made available to middle school children in England to see whether easy access to books improved reading skills and developed a taste for reading--is detailed in this book. The first chapter discusses the purpose and methodology of the experiment, while the…

To counteract the lack of interest in reading prevalent among linguistic minorities, members of the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) encourage the production of written literature by members of minority cultures. Any program of change must first take stock of such beliefs of preliterates as that learning to read is the same as learning a…

The first of a two-volume set, this monograph concentrates on a rapidly developing area of reading research, comprehension. Eleven articles cover theoretical aspects, ways of measuring comprehension, and strategies for teaching. Sense of story and its effect on comprehension and the facility to read, listen to, retell, and create stories are…

This book is the second volume of a supplementary textbook to be used either in the classroom or by individual students at home. It is not meant to replace other textbooks that focus on the intensive teaching of Czech grammar and vocabulary. One of the most important features of this book is its use of unaltered, authentic Czech materials. The…

This study examined the actual and perceived effects of full-day kindergarten on students' growth in play and problem solving, language and literacy, and socioemotional development. Participating in the study were two kindergarten teachers and their classrooms serving similar diverse inner city populations in western Canada, one a half-day program…