Describes a successful reciprocal bilingual exchange program between Anglophone fourth-year high school students of Spanish and native speakers of Spanish in an elementary school. Plans and specific activities are outlined for weekly interactions which serve as a sociocultural and linguistic bridge between the two groups of Spanish speakers. (PMJ)

The use of the Silent Way method of second language instruction in beginning and intermediate Spanish classes at the college level is described. The approach encourages student self-responsibility for learning the target language according to learning strategies selected by the student. Although the method was used during three semesters, the…

Rationales and approaches for teaching pronunciation in the intermediate foreign language classroom are discussed. Pronunciation should be taught regularly and overtly because perfecting pronunciation is an essential part of learning to communicate, and because intermediate students have enough vocabulary to generalize pronunciation rules to new…

The value of a rally, or scavenger hunt, in providing opportunities for second language learning is described. Teams are made up of people who do not speak the same native language. The players then begin the hunt that is designed as a noncompetitive creative language practice through participation exercise. Past experience indicates that the hunt…

Describes experimental Spanish program which employs simulated conversation strategies that allow students more freedom in their responses than in usual computer assisted language instruction programs, while error checking routines monitor for syntactic errors. (Author/BK)

Discusses the value of games with foreign language students for reinforcing previously learned materials. Gives examples of using seek and find, five point pyramid, crossword puzzles, unscramble the letters, and bingo. (BK)

A study examines two major types of vowel systems in languages, centripetal and centrifugal. English is associated with the centripetal system, in which vowel quality and quantity (rhythm) are heavily influenced by stress. In this system, vowels have a strong tendency to move toward the center of the vowel area. Spanish is associated with the…

The purpose of this report was to collect a summary of information on instructional programs for bilingual students in Irving Independepent School District (Texas), so the parents of these students as well as staff members could evaluate the existing bilingual programs. The effectiveness of improving English-as-a-Second-Language skills for…

El Midwest Canto Al Pueblo was a successful effort to bring artists, poets, musicians, and cultural workers together in a setting conducive to a free and easy interchange of ideas and directions in order to reaffirm, share, and celebrate the identity of La Raza with el pueblo. The activities during the 10-day festival included poetry readings,…

Examines form and gender correspondence rules for Spanish and attempts to evaluate them for potential utility to the foreign language user on the basis of formal and psychological criteria relating to how rules might affect performance, with specific reference to the role of rules as defined in monitor model. (Author/BK)

The use of metadrama as the organizing principle for introductory college classes on Spanish Golden Age theater is discussed. Four categories of metadrama are the play within the play, the ceremony within the play, role playing within the role, and literary and real-life reference within the play. Examples are provided. (21 references) (LB)

This document is the Spanish language supplement to "Second Step, Grades 1-3," a violence-prevention curriculum designed to reduce impulsive and aggressive behavior in young children and to increase their social competence. The supplement cannot be used by itself, as only a portion of the entire curriculum has been translated into…

Discusses the need for Spanish language materials in public libraries, and describes support systems that aid in the selection of materials. A directory of 50 vendors of Spanish language books, with brief information about the scope of materials and services they make available, is provided. (CLB)

A curriculum for preschool Spanish instruction, consisting of a list of objectives, a pupil evaluation system, and 26 lesson plans, is presented. The curriculum is designed as an enrichment component for the preschool classroom and is best suited for four-year-old children who have already mastered the same concepts in English. The lessons utilize…

There are two good reasons for incorporating historical linguistic insight into second language instruction: (1) to answer students' questions about why certain puzzling facts and irregularities occur in the language they are studying; and (2) as in other disciplines, a historical perspective can shed light on current practice. From a historical…