Research in the area of writing a second language is almost non-existent. Composition texts are generally poor. This article reviews the most commonly used textbooks for ESL (English as a Second Language) composition. (CFM)

Four textbooks used in the Certificate course are examined with regard to their suitability for teaching how to write letters in English. Then three letters are reporduced, one personal, one official, one an application for a job. They contain possibilities for exercises by offering variable formulas. (IFS/WGA)

"Englisch in Uebungen 1," by Schlecht, contains reinforcement and review exercises aimed at developing speaking ability. It covers: word order, negation, tenses, perfect forms, "be going to" plus infinitive, passives, and question-tags. Class use (as a supplement) and private use are discussed. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Texts available for French courses in the highest grades are listed according to topics, which include: position of women, today's youth, the language of advertising, French colonialism, holidays and tourism, modern city living, criminality, French politics. Hints for the teacher are included. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Among the comments on the "Normbook for English" are: it is admirably flexible; its limiting of learning goals to "basic skills" is too undifferentiated; for the graduate exam, it rightly prefers a text assignment to a theme assignment; goal-oriented auditory understanding exercises should be added. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Reports a study which explored the sexist content and photographs of twenty-five foreign language textbooks published from 1970 through 1974. (Author/CLK)

A description and the rationale for selection of new instructional materials adopted by the California State Department of Education are provided in this curriculum publication. Intended for use in grades 1-8 for a four-year period beginning with the 1968-69 school year, these materials include dictionaries, basic language textbooks, supplementary…

This publication comprises a collection of papers dealing with the teaching of English as a subject and as a medium of instruction in the elementary grades in Nigeria. Titles and authors are--(1) "The Background to English in the Primary School" by B.W. Tiffen; (2) "The Six Year Primary Course" by S. Gwarzo; (3)…

Several Latin textbooks are described and evaluated in terms of their affectiveness in teaching language mastery. These are: (1) "Using Latin," Scott, Foresman, (2) "Latin for Americans," Macmillan, (3) "Lingua Latina," by Burns, Medicus, and Sherburne, and (4) "A Basic Course in Latin,""An Intermediate Course in Latin--Reading," and "An…

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to examine the linguistic influences of each of the five elementary spelling series currently used in Texas and (2) to describe the elementary spelling programs in 20 selected school districts. A check list was developed which reflected textbook linguistic influence, and a questionnaire covering…

Presents a grid for analyzing language learning materials based on certain sociolinguistic criteria. (CLK)

Seven textbooks for teaching Business English are examined with respect to the following criteria, for their suitability in a Business English course: (1) Vocabulary, (2) Structures, (3) Communication situations and practical operations, (4) Taped materials, (5) Variety of text material, and (6) Written production. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

The applicability of a programmed methodology to a non-programmed text can result in a new approach to and definition of programmed learning. In seeking to resolve the present conflict between grammar and foreign language instruction by making the grammatical elements implicit to both student and teacher through a logically ordered program of…

This article points out the difficulties teachers have in selecting suitable materials for teaching English for special purposes. Universal textbooks, designed to suit all possible situations, are not specific enough. The article proposes ways in which a broader spectrum of materials might be obtained: (1) by producing textbooks with optional…

The following conference papers are included here: (1) "Language Typology and Contrastive Linguistics," by Laszlo Dezso and William Nemser, summarizes the history of typology and discusses the application of typology to research on language acquisition. (2) "Contrastive Aspects of British and American English with Implications for…