Proposes and illustrates the use of a framework for describing methodological trends in beginning-level college Spanish texts. The framework's five parameters focus on communication activities/grammar; contextualization/non-contextualization; meaningful/role; divergent/convergent; and interactive/non-interactive exercises. (21 references) (CB)

This article reports on the process of developing a proficiency-oriented writing contest, as well as a system of assessment of that writing based on a set of rubrics for each level of writing. (Contains six references.) (VWL)

Discusses a survey that sought to determine what texts and other ancillary materials are presently used by business faculty at Centers for International Business Education and Research (CIBER) institutions, the strengths and weaknesses of those texts, and the needs for future materials in those areas. The survey and survey results are appended.…

This article focuses on a qualitative teacher research project with a fourth-semester university Spanish class that emphasized inquiry-based learning. One of the primary objectives of the class was to increase learner autonomy through self-selected inquiries, self-directed learning activities, and curricular negotiation. Multiple data sources were…

Predominant, if not exclusive, use of the target language has long been considered an important principle of second language (L2) instruction. Previous research has attempted to quantify the amount of the first language (L1) used in the classroom and has explored the purposes or functions of teachers' "lapses" into their students' L1. The present…

Foreign language educators should make themselves known in the field of bilingual education because they have a good deal to offer. While bilingual education differs basically from foreign language programs in that it entails the use of two languages for all or part of the curriculum and not simply instruction in the language as such, it does…

The field of Spanish language instruction for bilingual Chicanos has been an area of pedagogical neglect within most college and university language departments. In the past, teachers wishing to implement a significant modification in their approach and methodology found the task virtually impossible because of a scarcity of commercially prepared…

Responding to the needs for professional bilingual linguists to work in private industry and government, the National Hispanic University (NHU) has developed a B.A. degree program in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Spanish and English translation. The program combines theoretical and applied course work in translation in the fields of…

One professional translator's experiences in teaching a course on the problems of English/Spanish literary translation, using a number of Spanish and Russian poems and short stories and their different kinds of translations for texts are discussed. The process of analyzing the literature for translation difficulties is outlined, as well as…

A survey was conducted of 508 universities to investigate the status of business Spanish courses in the modern language curriculum. The questionnaire solicited information on the number, size, and scheduling of business Spanish courses; students; course materials; methods of promotion; funding; language requirements; other business language…

The Minority Biomedical Support Program provides grant money to educational institutions so they can better encourage and train their students to pursue successful careers in biomedical research. (NQ)

Describes the Dartmouth Intensive Language Model which was originally developed to teach a crash course in French to Peace Corps volunteers. Describes the methodology used to teach this course at Bernard Baruch College and the negative effect of the college's physical environment and of the "commuting" factor on the class. (SED)

This paper examines the kinds of visuals that Spanish language textbooks use to legitimize Latino/a culture, noting how different groups are presented and represented by the narratives; how ethnicity, class, gender, age, and sexual inclinations interplay with power relations, and what ideologies weave the textual fabric of foreign language books.…