Recently added articles from Foreign Language Annals:
Our Biggest Challenge
Jul 01, 2008; Clifford, Ray ... Some might say that the biggest challenge facing language educators is convincing the general public that language learning is important. However, I would suggest that an even higher priority is to define what it means to "learn" a second language. Consider the following scenario: We ...
Why Learning To Write Chinese Is a Waste of Time: A Modest Proposal
Jul 01, 2008; Allen, Joseph R ... Abstract: This article argues that for students of Chinese and Japanese, learning to write Chinese characters (hanzi/kanji) by hand from memory is an inefficient use of resources. Rather, beginning students should focus on character/word recognition (reading) and electronic writing ....
Examining Our Collective Progress
Jul 01, 2008; Long, Sheri Spaine ... In May 2007, the Modern Language Association (MLA) published a report titled "Foreign Languages and Higher Education: New Structures for a Changed World." A year later, I find myself reflecting on this report as the Editor of Foreign Language Annals (FLA). Recently I reread the report and asked ...
Foreign Language Learning and SAT Verbal Scores Revisited
Jul 01, 2008; Cooper, Thomas C; Yanosky, Daniel J II; Wisenbaker, Joseph M ... Abstract: The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationship between foreign language learning and verbal ability in English as measured by the verbal section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Reasoning Test. Comparing foreign language students to nonforeign language ...
The Japanese Skills Test as an On-Demand Placement Test: Validity Comparisons and Reliability
Jul 01, 2008; Eda, Sanae; Itomitsu, Masayuki; Noda, Mari ... Abstract: This study and analysis are designed to find a common, practical measurement tool that may be used for intra- and interprogram evaluation of Japanese programs, especially in the higher education context. First, three previous methods of evaluation (the Oral Proficiency ...
The Linguistic Similarities of Spanish Heritage and Second Language Learners
Jul 01, 2008; Lynch, Andrew ... Abstract: This article addresses the situation of lower-proficiency heritage language learners of Spanish in terms of their linguistic similarities to second language learners. The analysis highlights grammatical and lexical features in the oral discourse of Spanish heritage and second ...
The Overwhelmed Generation and Foreign Language Teacher Preparation: Developing Strategies To Work With the Mental Health Challenges of Preservice Teachers
Jul 01, 2008; Schrier, Leslie L ... Abstract: For the last two decades the foreign language education profession has spent considerable energy establishing professional guidelines for foreign language teacher preparation. This article discusses research that suggests that the profession should now direct its energies ...
Podcasting Communities and Second Language Pronunciation
Jul 01, 2008; Lord, Gillian ... Abstract: Although often neglected in language classrooms, second language phonology is a crucial element in language learning because it is often the most salient feature in the speech of a foreigner. As instructors, we must decide how to emphasize pronunciation and what techniques to ...
Instructors' Use of English in the Modern Language Classroom
Jul 01, 2008; Wilkerson, Carol ... Abstract: Contemporary best practices in the profession encourage teaching as much as possible in the target language, but when university faculty were observed teaching Spanish, the majority spoke English during instruction and many engaged in frequent code switching (alternations) ...
The Role of Structural Position in L2 Phonological Acquisition: Evidence from English Learners of Spanish as L2
Jul 01, 2008; Vokic, Gabriela ... Abstract: In this pilot study, the speech of 12 adult native speakers of English with intermediate to intermediate-high proficiency in Spanish as a second language (L2) was analyzed to determine whether L2 learners rely on distributional information in the process of L2 speech learning ...
Integrating Focus on Form in L2 Content-Enriched Instruction Lessons
Jul 01, 2008; Grim, Frédérique ... Abstract: The model of content-enriched instruction focuses on the integration of grammatical and lexical forms within content to beginning-level learners (Ballman, 1997). This study used quantitative data to examine the efficiency and application of this model for second- and ...
CALENDAR
Jul 01, 2008; Anonymous ... JUNE June 20-28, 2008 Center for Advanced Language Proficiency Education and Research (CALPER) Summer Workshops: "Projects in Foreign Language Courses," June 20; "Language Portfolios," June 21; "Investigating Real Language" and "New Technologies for Language Teaching and ...