The School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies at the University of Nottingham hosted the fifth annual conference in the "Innovative Language Teaching at University" series. Under the heading "Enhancing participation and collaboration" the conference, organised by Cecilia Goria, Oranna Speicher and Sascha Stollhans, took…

Discusses the existence of anglicisms in German as a problem for the practice and teaching of translation, in which attention must be paid to the status of loans in the German linguistic and social system. Offers an approach to the translation of transparent anglicisms and proposes a method of translation. (SR)

Compares the order of acquisition of German syntactic structures in the untutored adult learner with the order of presentation of these structures in seven, commonly used German textbooks in four-year, postsecondary institutions. (EKN)

Investigates the extent to which college students enrolled in French, German, and Spanish courses subscribe to stereotypes about the purported characteristics of these languages. (EKN)

Argues that multiple language use in learner output is not always and exclusively indicative of the deficient nature of the language learner with respect to an idealized monolingual second language linguistic norm. Multilingual written learner texts and learners' explications of these texts are examined in detail. (Author/VWL)

Reports on a study of the classroom acquisition of German word order by adult learners. Results of the study support the claim that classroom and naturalistic second language acquisition of complex grammatical features such as word order follow similar routes. (50 references) (Author/OD)

A discussion of problems in teaching business German focuses on methodologies used to introduce syntax and grammar at the introductory and intermediate levels. The formalistic, progressive approaches to grammar and syntax that American students are accustomed to in language instruction put them at a disadvantage because they: (1) make it difficult…

Reports on the few studies that have explored sex differences in the use of language learning strategies and speculates why females appear to use a wider range of strategies than do males and why social strategies are more popular among women than men. (Author/DJD)

Second language students may develop writing skills gradually, or they may learn and practice these skills through the use of sentence combining techniques. A study is reported of the consistent use of sentence combining exercises with intermediate language classes at the university level. A total of 325 students enrolled in intermediate French,…

A single Ph.D. program cannot be designed for candidates who will be either researchers and teachers. The solution is two different programs, one to serve each purpose. A plan for a Ph.D. research program in German is outlined. (CFM)

Examines the extent to which research findings from second language and immersion programs--concerning the efficacy of different instructional approaches--are transferable to the context of foreign language learning in British higher education. Data are drawn from a study of German learners exposed to focus on form tuition and focus on forms…

Examines the patterns found in repair-work behavior (e.g., apologies, excuses) in Austrian German as they relate to situational variables and cultural themes, using data collected from university students during closed role-play situations. Findings reveal a complex interplay of situational variables informing the repair-work behavior. (46…

Describes an introspective study of four advanced learners of German under conditions of initial extensive exposure to the second language community. It is suggested that introspective techniques can profitably be employed with the advanced learner. (49 references) (CB)

Presents study conducted to determine whether sentence combining approach would increase rate of written syntactic development of college students of French, German, and Spanish. Results show it is effective for teaching some aspects of writing to intermediate foreign language students. (BK)

Contrasts systems of address used between professors and students in German departments in the United States and at universities in Germany. It is shown that the two systems differ in several important ways. These differences are discussed and guidelines are provided for instructors on how to deal with them. (31 references) (LET)