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…

Focuses on beginner foreign-language classes at the university level with the goal of identifying the types of learners who participate in "languages for all" programs and how their needs can best be addressed during the first weeks of the course. Students' initial learning needs to be compensated by the development of various kinds of awareness…

A survey of 35 bilingual (Spanish-English) high school students found that all respondents acted as language brokers (informal translators) regardless of length of U.S. residence or availability of other brokers. Many students who reported relatively low school achievement had translated a variety of linguistically sophisticated documents.…

Examines second-language instruction at the primary school level in Ireland, where there is significant demand for instruction in languages other than the mandatory Irish and English. An argument is made for a language awareness approach to introduce students to a third language. (39 references) (MDM)

Advocates a language awareness approach that aims at helping learners of a second language develop awareness of how the target language is typically used to achieve communication. Presents a pragmatic awareness lesson for upper intermediate students of English based on an extract from Charles Webb's "The Graduate." (18 references) (MDM)

An analysis of the Language Awareness/Knowledge about Language components of the English/Welsh National Curriculum in English and Modern Foreign Languages is used to investigate the explicit awareness of language expected of secondary school students. The framework assumes increasing degrees of abstraction and the changes in types of…

Ways that mother tongue and foreign languages are taught in Belgian, especially Flemish, secondary schools are discussed. Some "out-of-school" activities are reported that seem to have a significant effect on students' awareness of languages. The extent to which topics and subthemes of language awareness are present in official curricula…

After surveying the ways in which translation is currently used in teaching Italian in British and U.S. universities, an approach is suggested that focuses on using translation activities that are authentic and allow students to develop not only their linguistic and metalinguistic skills but also their sociocultural competence. (CFM)

Examines the importance in the instructed-learning setting of the second-language teacher's "knowledge about language" or metalinguistic awareness. Discusses three questions: (1) Do teachers need to know about language?; (2) if so, why and in what ways; and (3) what impact does the level of a teacher's metalinguistic awareness have on the input…

Argues that the possibility of working together unobserved on language learning tasks helps students to formulate and articulate their perceptions of how the linguistic structure of the foreign language functions. It is suggested that students' perceptions of how the computer helps them to learn the language can provide a blueprint for the…

Reviews various strategies for addressing language needs in teacher development courses, ranging from providing separate language provision to incorporating language development within the methodology component of the course. Discusses how transcripts can be used to develop awareness of and promote practice in the language used for various…

Highlights a language awareness project in a small primary school in the Mulhouse area of Alsace in France as an example of how languages of unequal status can be placed on an equal footing in a school context, how children can be educated to linguistic and cultural variety, and the teachers can be made aware of the linguistic and cultural wealth…

Presents annotations of 30 children's books published in 2000, vivid in language and diverse in genre, content, and style, selected as notable for their potential to enhance language awareness for children in grades K-8. (SG)