Abstract: Systems and methods for semantic knowledge assessment, instruction, and acquisition are disclosed. In one embodiment a computer-implemented method for language instruction includes determining a lexical recognition ability level of a user within a lexicon of a particular language. This method further includes, based on item recognizability, creating a target list of unknown lexical items. The target list can be sorted by ranking the importance of the unknown lexical items within the particular lexicon. The method also includes generating a personal language learning sequence for the user based, at least in part, on the target list.