The role of emotions in learning has been the focus of much debate in teaching circles, as has the question of discussing controversial issues in the classroom. The aim of this small-scale inquiry was to investigate how two groups of intermediate level students of French as a foreign language expressed emotion in discussing the controversial issue…

Most pedagogical applications of wikis in foreign language education draw on this collaborative tool to improve (formal) writing skills or to develop target language cultural sensitivity, missing largely on the opportunity to support student-developed L2 content knowledge. Seeking an alternative to traditional teacher-centered approaches, this…

Scholars praise social networking tools for their ability to engage and motivate iGeneration students in meaningful communicative practice, content exchange, and collaboration (Greenhow, Robelia, & Hughes, 2009; Ziegler, 2007). To gain further insight about the nature of student participation, knowledge acquisition, and relationship development…

Examines the challenges accompanying inserting Francophone literatures of the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa into the curriculum. This article suggests additions to the syllabus and discusses three theories useful in weaving together all Francophone literatures--a process duplicating the "metissage" of cultures. (31 references)…

Discusses the theoretical basis for poetry's potential for the language acquisition process. The article presents a practical plan for the progressive integration of poetry into the language classroom and concludes that the process of poetic analysis aids the formation of critical reading and thinking skills. (26 references) (CK)

Argues that the possibility of working together unobserved on language learning tasks helps students to formulate and articulate their perceptions of how the linguistic structure of the foreign language functions. It is suggested that students' perceptions of how the computer helps them to learn the language can provide a blueprint for the…

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…

Argues that the increasing number of non-specialist students of French in British universities requires an investigation of the adequacy of "general purpose" syllabi, grammars, and methodologies. Suggests that the effective design of syllabi and methodologies for specific purposes students is enhanced through detailed analysis of a…

It is proposed that the upper-level language curriculum include a course in commercial French-to-English translation as a means of enhancing student expertise and range of understanding in the commercial domain. Translation lends itself to curricular variety, is integrative, is flexible, and is rewarding to students. However, in commercial…

This paper presents a French-as-a-Second-Language writing course for non-Francophone students at an advanced university level. Because this approach to teaching writing focuses on the writer (and on the reader's expectations), as well as on textuality, the organization (i.e., the architecture) of this course is as complex as writing. (32…

A framework for a college introductory French literature class suggests suitable texts, methods, and activities, with emphasis on communication. In "Problems in Language and Style," students' reading, writing, and speaking skills are developed through the thorough and methodological reading of texts, novels, and plays. (CB)

A comparison of language skill development by college students enrolled in a content course taught in French and in a French language course found that content-course students excelled in oral skills and language attitudes and that language-course students excelled in writing skills, challenging conventional assumptions about language-learning…

Describes some features of French business correspondence that contrast sharply with that of the American equivalent. Provides a sample syllabus for a commercial French course and lists sample vocabulary and phrases useful in business correspondence. (LMO)