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Copyright of Canadian Modern Language Review is the property of University of Toronto Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses the contents within the issue including articles on topics such as preparation of university study by students; the role of explicit information in second language grammar learning; and the role of written corrective feedback in education.

A widely accepted theoretical premise in second language acquisition holds that learners must notice language form in order to learn it. This premise provides support for language instruction that integrates attention to language form with attention to content. Empirical research has shown this combination to be effective; however, little research has investigated how learners attend to form in content-based language contexts. This study was carried out as part of a larger research project investigating the effect and effectiveness of form-focused instruction (FFI) in a content-based language programme. The project used a pre-test/post-test/delayed post-test design to measure language and content outcomes and a retrospective recall protocol to investigate learner attention to language and content. This paper reports on the findings of the recall protocol and the relationship between learner attention and language outcomes. Analysis of the recall data indicated that the participants were able to identify the focus of the instruction they received in reference to content or language. However, no relationship between awareness of language and language outcomes was found. The findings are discussed in the context of content-based language instruction and FFI and the possible role of orientation and depth of processing in learner attention and awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comparative, classroom-based study investigated the effect and effectiveness of introducing a focus on form approach to a content-based, occupation-specific language program for adults. Thirty-six adults in two classes participated in a 10-week study. One group of 16 adults received content-based instruction that included a focus on form component while the other group of 20 adults received the same content-based instruction with a focus on meaning only. Pre-tests/post-tests/delayed post-tests measured learning of two grammatical forms, the present conditional and the simple past tense, as well as occupational content knowledge. Results indicated significant gains on most of the language measures for both learner groups but significant advantages for the form-focused group on the content knowledge tests. The results are discussed in relation to the impact of specific strategies designed to focus on form and the relationship between attention to form and comprehension of content in the context of content-based language programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]