English Teachers Bring Drugs to South Korea

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA–When Jason Glunt quit working for his grandfather’s floral business in Sacramento, Calif., he decided the next job must be, at the least, adventurous, if not different. A business major from San Diego State University, the 26-year-old’s many Korean-American friends pointed him toward a decent paying job, with the added bonus of a fun and wild life full story

Girls have harder time than boys adjusting in language-learning environment

EAST LANSING, MI–who don’t share a common language may have more difficulty adjusting socially than boys, according to surprising new Michigan State University research looking at language acquisition among young children. A study of 3- to 6-year-olds attending an international school in Beijing found that in general full story

Proficiency in English builds new realities

HOLYOKE, MA–It was a ceremony befitting of an Olympic journey. As the pageantry of the games in Beijing flashed across the screen, a dozen hopefuls from countries across the world imagined achieving another personal best. This was a game that would not end with a gold medal for those who crossed the finish line first. But it is a pursuit that in many ways takes no less effort and full story

Not so lost in translation

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND–Bridging the gap between cultures and language has been made a little easier at Baverstock Oaks Primary School, with the addition of two new English language assistant teachers. The primary is one of the first in New Zealand to adopt specialist language aids to help the more than 165 of 800 students that are English as a second language learners. full story

SPS Sees Increase in Non-English Speaking Students

SPRINGFIELD, MO–Enrollment at Springfield Public Schools is up, and so is the number of students in the district who speak languages other than English. This year the district has more than 400 English language learners. That’s a jump of 120 students from just last year, so the district says another set of hands would help. full story

Bilingual education ban faces broad opposition

PORTLAND, OR–A group comprising many of the principals of the education community, including parents, teachers, teachers unions and education industry advocates, has organized in opposition to Measure 58 and another schools initiative on the November ballot. The Parents and Teachers Know Better Coalition lists at least 65 organizations full story

School board to review English Language Learners plan

CAPE CORAL, FL–During today’s Lee County School Board meeting, there will be a public hearing to approve the district’s updated English Language Learners plan that deals with 6,804 students not fluent in English. Formerly known as English Speakers of Other Languages or ESOL, students are enrolled in English Language Learners or full story

Study of English increasing in Mauritania

NOUAKCHOTT, MAURITANIA–In recent years, more and more Mauritanians show interest in learning English. People both young and old view it as the world’s leading language and the key to navigating a globalised world. Recognising the trend, the government undertook a series of educational reforms in 1990 that included the decision to teach English from the first year full story

Board is in agreement: Measure 58 puts pressure on students

PORTLAND, OR–Ballot Measure 58 in the Nov. 4 Oregon election mandates that after a maximum of two years of studying in an English as a Second Language (ESL) program, students would be expected to take all of their remaining courses in English. This ballot measure does not affect English-speaking students taking a foreign language. Measure 58 affects ESL students in all full story

Using Nonsense Word Fluency to Predict Reading Proficiency in Kindergarten Through Second Grade for English Learners and Native English Speakers

RED ORBIT.COM–This study examined the validity of Nonsense Word Fluency as an index of beginning reading proficiency for students in kindergarten through second grade. Validity evidence for Nonsense Word Fluency is addressed in the context of research-based instructional practices implemented on a large scale. full story