Teachers can further Spanish language students' appreciation of the language's variety and richness through consideration of the use of puns in contemporary Spanish advertising. The puns are useful in introducing and reinforcing grammatical points and for providing culturally relevant and interesting material to students. (CB)

Describes the inventory technique, a reading tool which helps second language students to use their background knowledge and experience in overcoming the gap between native and foreign cultural perspectives. The cultural inventory worksheet helps students collect and organize cultural information in written foreign language material. (Author/CB)

A consultant to a Northern Alberta School Division describes how she used drama activities to enrich children's language experiences. (Author/MP)

Based on the premise that social studies programs must involve students in dynamic learning and language activities, the article discusses thought and language in social studies education and describes an Ohio State University Program which integrates social studies instruction and active learning-language experiences. (KC)

Not all content teaching is necessarily good second language teaching. The typically used question/answer sequence could be replaced with a more effective use of carefully contrived activities that bring into the classroom authentic language in its full functional range. (Author/CB)

Principles of whole-language instruction are being implemented with upper elementary students at the Nebraska School for the Deaf. Students conduct cross-genre studies involving book, stage play, and movie versions of familiar tales. The approach incorporates language arts, social studies, science, art, and speech activities. (DB)

Describes problems and attempted resolutions encountered in administering an effective study-abroad program in Paris, France, discussing program rationale, selection and preparation of students, academic life, and social life. (28 references) (CB)

Examines the purposes and constraints of the language-learning experience, where participants learn a little of a foreign language to increase their understanding of the language-learning process, for development of teachers of English-as-a-Second-Language. (CB)

A brief overview of the importance of the use of appropriate methodologies for elementary school foreign language instruction precedes a description of several strategies involving total physical response, story telling, games and songs, props, small-group work, role-play, content-based instruction, cultural and global awareness, language…

Children arrive in classrooms with varied background knowledge, which means that teachers must select instructional methods, materials, and techniques to meet multiple needs. A carefully planned approach that includes direct and explicit instruction--as well as extensive opportunities for reading, writing, speaking, and listening--can help…

Presents a proposal to bring literature into the basic program of instruction and make it a meaningful component of the learning process. A model lesson describes how literary texts can be perceived and studied as performances of a language. (CB)

Discusses the positive aspects of a program that allows students to provide instruction for one another in their native languages and explains that children may absorb a number of facts from such instruction. (DF)

Presents several examples of short Hispanic ballads for incorporation into advanced secondary school and undergraduate courses. The ballads' historical and cultural significance are explored as well as their linguistic value. (CB)

Describes one class' experience with Tele-class, where university students used a telephone-like device that showed a still picture of the speaker to talk with students in Spain, pointing out linguistic and cultural gains as well as limitations in enhancing motivation, language awareness, and cultural awareness. (13 references) (Author/CB)

Spion, an adventure game for intermediate and advanced college German students, requires players to communicate with a fictitious agent in complete, correct German sentences. The spy game was written in PROLOG, runs on an IBM-PC, and is available at no cost for noncommercial purposes. (Author/CB)