Reports research in cross-cultural differences between Americans from the United States and Germans, regarding the connotations of vocabulary items, specifically two sample words: "Cliquen" and "Kneipen." Over a period of five years, more than 50 native speakers from both cultures, who had experience with the other culture, were interviewed on…

The year-long study that was the context for this article explored the complicated relationship among the shaping of ESOL as a school construct, the historical legacy of colonialism, and the contemporary influence of globalizing forces on the teaching of English worldwide and the lives of multilingual students enrolled in ESOL. In the context of a…

The perception of bicultural stress, stress due to discrimination/prejudice, immigration, and acculturation, was investigated in relation to mental well-being in a sample of urban Latino (n = 304), European American (n = 215), and Asian American (n = 131) 8th grade students. Bicultural stress was reported by all ethnic groups and was significantly…

This article attempts to assess the validity of dividing Polish students of English into British and American groups. The tests of the various hypotheses regarding linguistic and non-linguistic results of such divisions are described. (AM)

This reader is designed to accompany the fifth text in the Orientation in American English series. It is intended to provide advanced practice in reading comprehension as well as concentrated practice in composition techniques and writing. At the same time it supports and reinforces concepts and structures introduced in the text. The reader may be…

The notion of integrating reading and writing in L1 and L2 literacy education is not new; however, only until recently has the reading-writing connection received enough attention and been implemented in the teaching of L1 and L2. This paper aims to search for the most current, up-to-dated, approach that best incorporates the idea of…

Examines an aspect of colloquial American English in which linguistics and area studies are involved. Analyzes typical errors which lead to misunderstandings and discusses in detail the use of the expressions "excuse me" and "I'm sorry." (IFS/WGA)

Discusses one teacher's experience teaching English to Russian students at Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University. Describes an approach to teaching American English through literature using a dialogic method called "town meetings."(Author/VWL)

Research with ESL students studying at North American universities has indicated that Chinese students have difficulties in understanding academic lectures, taking notes, writing assignments, and giving presentations although they have obtained high TOEFL scores. The study investigates their English academic listening challenges as reported by…

This study examines orthography as one source of non-targetlike phonetic output and focuses on the acquisition by speakers of American English vowel reduction in Russian, a salient feature of the Russian phonetic system that is not reflected in the graphics of the Cyrillic script. The researchers conducted a structured interview and administered…

This transcript of and guide to a two-cassette course designed to assist Italian immigrants in erasure of their foreign accents can be used for either individual or group study. Narrative and taped demonstrations of American English that pinpoint typical phonological barriers and pronunciation difficulties are outlined. The author's own system of…

A case study in second language learning was conducted by the researcher on herself in a specific sociolinguistic context, Trinidad, and with reference to a specific first and second language relationship, standard English and Trinidadian English Creole. The study attempted to: (1) demonstrate the complexity of social, cultural, psychological, and…

Can the way children learn Chinese help them to learn English? In this study, it is noted that there is a possibility that despite the structural differences between them, there is transference from the learning of Chinese to the learning of English. Skinner's four major reinforcement schedules were used in this study to promote this transference…

The purpose of this project was to develop new materials for non-English speaking secondary school students of English as a second language that were meaningful and applicable to their immediate needs. The material was developed from audio and video tape recordings made of survival situations encountered by ESL students in an American high school.…

American comic strips and cartoons can be useful in English-as-a-second-language classes. They introduce variety and provide an inside look into American life and thought. Many current popular comic strips have cultural, social, and political significance and discuss the American way of life, society, and the individual. The…