Lindseth (2016) reported that direct instruction and practice using the German verb-inversion rule resulted in higher accuracy in an oral test for college students, supporting the hypothesis that explicit linguistic knowledge can become implicit linguistic knowledge. It is quite likely, however, that the conditions for the use of conscious…

Focuses on (1) the disparities between reading and writing instructional methodologies, (2) the misconceptions students seem to draw if these disparities are not brought to their attention, and (3) the recursive relationship between written and oral language. Contrasts the relationships between main ideas and details in reading processes with…

Describes an algorithm that can be used for the construction of an oral presentation. The article suggests how nonnative English-speaking students can be taught to make their presentations more cohesive and to evaluate their cohesiveness with the help of video recordings. (21 references) (Author/CK)

Advanced Danish students of English tried to identify the national origin of young men from Ireland, Scotland, England, and the United States from their speech and then rated the speech for attractiveness. Listeners rated speech produced by Englishmen as most attractive, and speech by Americans as least attractive. (Author/VWL)

Presents an approach to developing a grammatical scope and sequence for elementary and intermediate foreign-language instruction that is different from the standard model, which bases the grammatical syllabus of a textbook on tradition, intuition, or both. The article argues that different descriptions of grammar are needed for each of the skills…

Looks at the Quebecois TV show, "Un gars, Une fille" used in a university French course to teach the socio-cultural reality that underlies all linguistic utterances in a university-level French course. Attempts to identify what makes the show more authentic than videos and CD ROMs that accompany most language textbooks in French.…

This article examines the problems of the intermediate-level foreign-language course as well as student attitudes and goals derived from survey data. (33 references) (CK)

Discusses the attitudes of students concerning the benefit of Year 12 foreign language courses to the development of their oral and aural proficiency in the target language, i.e., French. While most students felt that their ability to speak and understand spoken French had improved as a result of the course, some expressed dissatisfaction with…

The difficulties and the advantages of giving oral critiques of student speeches are discussed. The advantages of using oral critiques are such that many speech teachers will want to include them. It is argued in this paper that the difficulties associated with oral critiques can be overcome by using communication messages that are intended to…

Focuses on the misgivings of language professors familiar with the LINGUA program due to a new development in European programs of teacher education. The SOCRATES program continues the previous arrangements of LINGUA while introducing some changes. This article analyzes the changes that have a direct bearing on the education of future teachers.…

The changes in written and spoken Spanish proficiency of two college students during a semester of study in Spain are examined in their oral and written performance and in their grades at a Spanish university. Both students were initially rated, according to American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency guidelines, at…

Presents a case for teaching the pragmatic (discourse-based) features of English intonation to foreign students of English as a Second Language. Advocates a systematic approach to teaching these functions of English intonation through a consciousness-raising methodology that uses authentic academic oral texts. (25 references) (Author/CK)

Because most language teaching in China is focused on national tests, language is treated as a knowledge subject and development of communicative abilities is often ignored. This article describes activities that one English-as-a-Foreign-Language teacher used to teach oral English to university students in China. (Author/VWL)

Focuses on the employment-related aspect of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) classes at the intermediate and advanced levels. Activities described include researched pair presentations, company research, working through occupational modules and an exercise to enhance self-image. Networking with colleagues and the community helps in the…

Addresses the issue of collocations as an important and neglected variable in English-as-a-Foreign-Language classes. Two questionnaires, in English and Arabic, involving common collocations relating to food, color, and weather were administered to English majors and English language teachers. Results show both groups deficient in collocations. (36…