Basic Skills Resource Center. A Review of the Literature on the Acquisition of English as a Second Language: The Potential for Research Applications

Abstract

Abstract : InterAmerica Research Associates, Inc., has developed and operated the Basic Skills Resource Center (BSRC) under contract with the U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI). The BSRC project has two interfacing components: the design, implementation and operation of and information service; and the implementation and monitoring of and applied research agenda related to the study of learning strategies. This report describes the initial phase of one of the five studies undertaken through the BSRC research component. The study was designed to provide information on applications of learning strategies for English as a second language (ESL) students in the military. This review of the literature was undertaken as an initial step in the identification of ESL learning strategies. Identification of learning strategies is of particular importance to ESL because of the difficulty students confront in gaining second language proficiency necessary to meet the language demands in education and training situations. Learning strategies for second language learner concentrate on what the students can do to become more effective language learners and what students can do to profit from available instruction.