Explores language as a cultural commodity through examination of the different values of rhetoric in Arabic- and English-speaking cultures, as evidenced by the language of the war against Iraq, and through examination of the role of language in determining economic status in France, the United States, and England. (18 references) (Author/CB)

To deal with the problem of subjectivity and multiple variables in the oral evaluations given in French foreign language classes, this study considers three main questions: (1) Which criteria should be evaluated; (2) How should these criteria be evaluated; and (3) What is the role of the institution in the evaluation? (SBR)

Examines verbal auxiliary selection in the speech of French immersion students. Examines variation in auxiliary selection in the oral discourse to determine to what extent it resembles that of native speakers. (Author/VWL)

Reviews the different categories of native pauses and describes techniques for incorporating them cautiously into the spoken French of anglophones (especially Americans), suggesting that proper pause behavior is actually a definite mark of authentic sounding and well-controlled speech. (Author/CB)

Reviews key issues in the debate over the role of grammar in the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview and in corresponding proficiency guidelines as well as the debate's potential impact on foreign language curricula. Data describing the grammatical accuracy of 40 interviews at various proficiency…

Describes strategy for teaching culture and conversation at the third- and fourth-year undergraduate level using authentic documents as the primary materials. The medium chosen for this course was the French chanson, but similar strategies may be applicable to any modern language using the culturally appropriate materials. (eight references) (LET)

A study of classroom interaction in Ontario's French immersion programs is summarized. Transcripts of classroom interactions were analyzed for teaching practices that tend to decrease or encourage student speech. Results suggest that the use of language in immersion classrooms is not significantly different from language use in regular classes. It…

This article presents a selective review of the work carried out recently in second language acquisition (SLA) research which makes use of oral learner corpora and computer technologies. In the first part, the reasons why the field of SLA needs corpora for addressing current theoretical issues are briefly reviewed. In the second part, recent…

Meaningful and relevant tests of oral competence in foreign languages must address problems impeding communicative competence such as lack of student motivation, unimaginative questions, inhibitive personal questions, and pictorial tests. Examples of test questions are presented in French. (CB)

The literature of foreign language research is reviewed for its applications of the expressions "learner-centered instruction" and "communicative approach." It is proposed that the emphasis in these approaches is misplaced and produces resistance rather than willingness by the students. (MSE)

Exploits Bourdieu's notion of legitimate language to analyze the social origins and consequences of language practices in a French-language minority high school. Findings reveal the contradictions between the socioeconomic values of social mobility attached to monolingual standard French and the political values of authenticity and solidarity…

Discusses whether the goal of language proficiency is reasonable or even possible given the language textbooks available. Examines the description of the French language in college-level French language textbooks (all of which take a structural approach) to see if they lend themselves to the acquisition of a functional speaking ability. (SED)