This manual for the Marianas Test of English Achievement (MTEA) provides a description of the tests, directions for administration and scoring, a discussion of the interpretation of scores, and norms based on all 1,780 children in grades 6 through 9 in the Northern Marianas Islands in October 1977 and May 1978. There are two equivalent forms of…

This paper deals with the vocabulary problems encountered by advanced ESL students. While beginning and intermediate texts tend to control vocabulary and adapt reading selections to the learner, advanced students are usually forced to confront unabridged texts. Reading is a way to increase vocabulary, but a lack of vocabulary makes the reading…

Described is the Complete Help and Assistance Necessary for a College Education (C.H.A.N.C.E.) Program established at Northern Illinois University for minority students who had not met the traditional admission standards of ACT score and class rank. Instead, these students were selected on the basis of their motivation, their leadership, and…

Teachers can help students develop abilities to enable them to read subject-oriented materials with better understanding. The purpose is not to conduct a lesson in reading comprehension, but to establish purposes for reading, develop word competency, search for surface and deeper meanings, and evaluate information and ideas gained through reading.…

ARROW (Aural-Read-Respond-Oral-Written) is a multisensory teaching approach where children listen to their own voices on tape recorders. Advantages of the ARROW program as demonstrated at four sites in Blackford, Somerset (England), with elementary/secondary students presenting moderate to severe learning difficulties, reading/spelling/vocabulary…

This study was an action research project designed to improve students' reading comprehension. Students in the targeted kindergarten, second, and third grade classes exhibited a lack of reading comprehension, which interfered with their academic achievement. Data was collected by student and parent surveys, observations, and document analysis.…

Reviews a teaching strategy built on the body of research revealing crossword puzzles as effective means of introducing fundamental concepts and vocabulary. Discusses methods for constructing the puzzle. Student responses suggest that the puzzle was useful as a tool for both learning and review. (MJP)

Investigation of the retention of school-learned French language skills in Dutch students over a period of four years following training revealed that global receptive skills actually improved. Only lexical and grammatical skills attrited, although students' self-perception of their skill retention was much more negative. (Author/JR)

Examines vocabulary growth and development, looking at conventional vocabulary instruction and its outcomes. Evidence that word list drills do not promote vocabulary growth effectively is presented, and suggestions are given for fostering increased vocabulary. Promoting wide reading is advocated as the best approach. (SLD)

Discusses the promotion of language and literacy skills in young children through the use of computers. Describes specific courseware that can be used to develop vocabulary and writing skills. Includes sample lessons that demonstrate how courseware can be effectively integrated into a school curriculum and provides a checklist for teachers to use…

Describes a study of the use of captioned television to improve the reading comprehension and vocabulary skills of U.S. Navy sailors that was conducted to help find low-cost, low-intervention methods of improving reading skills. Results for experimental and control groups are compared, and the evaluation questionnaire is appended. (17 references)…

Raven's Progressive Matrices and the Simpson Adult Vocabulary Scale were administered to 400 Australian hospitalized adults without psychiatric or neurological impairment in 4 age groups from 30 to 69 years. Compared to pre-1964 data, the subjects did not show gains in intelligence quotient as did younger age groups. (SLD)

Discusses the many reasons to use the Internet in English-as-a-Second-Language classrooms, including increased student motivation, authentic language use, global awareness, and environmental friendliness (decreased use of paper). Examines two popular features of the Internet (electronic mail and the World Wide Web), presenting projects that can…

Analyzed and validated revised versions of the 2000 Word Level and the University Word Level of Nation's Vocabulary Levels Test, which can be administered for course planning and placement in language programs. Japanese high school and university students (n=496) completed four forms of the 2000 Word Test, and 464 completed four forms of the…

Investigated whether low-income mothers learned to interact with their preschoolers in ways that fostered narrative skills. Mothers of intervention children were encouraged to elicit questions, encourage longer narratives, and participate in narrative conversation. Assessment of children's pre- and post-intervention narrative and vocabulary skills…