In a program linking French, U.S., and Japanese secondary schools through telecommunications, Japanese students explained to their foreign peers, in French, the cultural conditions in their country at the time of Christopher Columbus and today. The real-time cultural contact and students' discovery of their communicative ability were program…

It is proposed that intercultural creative writing exercises can be conducted using the fax machine to communicate between schools, even in different countries. Specific themes and activities for French second-language writing projects are outlined. (MSE)

The evolution of heritage education in France is chronicled, from its introduction in the late 1980s through an emergence of interest in the Council of Europe, and to a series of 30 or so experiments conducted cooperatively by France and Italy, including international exchanges. Cultural, educational, and human benefits are examined. (MSE)

A conference held in Lebanon to discuss and solidify the role of French as the country's second language is reported. Factors endangering the status of French, the political and cultural role of the language, and French-Lebanese cooperative efforts in support of French language and culture are outlined. (MSE)

The role of the French language in the European Community, whose membership increasingly includes countries where French is not prominent, is examined. The distinction between official language and the lingua franca of work is noted, and strategies for ensuring the future of French in a multilingual global community are considered. (MSE)

An Italian program providing professional training at a distance for French second-language teachers in Italy is described briefly. The program used teleconferencing to link regional programs for instructional sessions on specific themes. Because of positive response, the program will be continued. (MSE)

A European exchange program for language teachers in which the objective is to create opportunities for professional and pedagogical reflection, refinement of language skills and cultural knowledge, and better understanding of the target culture's school system is described. The program provides two-week visits to a foreign country, during which…

It is suggested that, in secondary school level second-language teaching in the European Community, more effort should be made to take advantage of geographic proximity to language groups and to diversify the languages being taught and learned. Increased international exchange is urged. (MSE)

A cooperative project to improve the French second-language curriculum in Egyptian schools is described, including the challenges and principles involved in designing a 13-year elementary-secondary curriculum, pilot testing in 2 schools, teacher workshops, networking among participants, results, and lessons learned. (MSE)

A student exchange program in which Italian secondary students of French visited Lyon is described, including the impetus for the trip (a European Community initiative to promote international exchange), the search for an exchange partner institution, program design and planning, the trip itself, and evaluation of the effort. (MSE)

France's new Under-Secretary for Linguistic and Educational Cooperation within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs outlines his plans for the role the agency is to play. Issues discussed include French language instruction, cooperation with developed and developing nations, the role of French, cooperation at all educational levels, and agency…

A September 1994 conference, held in Hungary, on the emerging role of universities in a more unified Europe is summarized. Participants were university administrators. Primary issues considered included international mobility and cooperation strategies; quality of professional education and research; politics of research; and human resource…