This article describes a university language and research program which focuses on the instruction of modern languages to non-language majors. The facility, personnel, teaching methods, and evaluation procedures are described. (Text is in French.) (CLK)

The Committee for General and Technical Education of the Council of Europe commissioned a comparative study of modern language teaching in European primary and secondary schools, the results of which are presented here. School systems and plans of primary and secondary education in the 21 member states of the CCC are reviewed, along with the…

This report was prepared by participants in the Pre-Conference Workshop for Foreign Language Consultants and Supervisors at the annual meeting of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in November 1974. In part 1, exploratory language programs are described, and goals for such programs are listed in part 2. Part 3 describes five…

This article examines the range of language and area studies courses now offered in British universities and polytechnic institutes. Four types of language programs are reviewed: (1) the conventional "culture" model, (2) basic skills courses, (3) joint honors programs, and (4) an area studies model. Advantages of the area studies…

This paper first addresses the issue of the contradictory nature of informed opinion and advice in the foreign language field today. It goes on to consider such controversial topics as the introduction of the written symbol, teaching the language versus teaching about it, teaching culture, the usefulness of FLES, and individualization. The…

This volume in a series of annual reports focuses on FLES as an integral part of the elementary school curriculum. The areas investigated in this study include ways in which FLES programs can make significant contributions in helping elementary pupils to develop necessary skills for vocational, social, and economic competence; to gain access to…

The author suggests that educators must (1) realistically assess the ways in which language study can and cannot contribute significantly to the student's overall educational experience and devise new methods which consciously stress goals attainable within the available time period, (2) provide more than one kind of introductory course, and (3)…

This article relates four incidents drawn from cultural lore of different countries and demonstrates the interrelatedness of international folklore. The historio- geographical method, also known as the Finnish school, of comparative folklore is discussed in the analysis of the four cultural items. Language teachers are advised of ways in which…

A NEED FOR NEW CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES TO APPRAISE OBJECTIVELY THE COMPETENCIES AND TECHNIQUES OF TEACHERS OF MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES HAS RESULTED IN THIS HANDBOOK TO DESCRIBE WAYS OF OBSERVING VARIOUS FACTORS AND DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF TEACHING PERFORMANCE. TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT ARE SUCH FACTORS AS THE TEACHER'S ACTIVITIES IN THE…

Learning theory inherent in concepts related to and including individualized instruction in FLES is explored in this article. A distinction is made between individualized activity and individualized instruction. Differences which distinguish the FLES learning environment from the secondary school language learning situation are pointed out.…

The dual mandate of modern language learning is considered to be linguistic competence and scholarly expertise in literature or in philology. The need for the systematic study of culture in modern language studies is discussed, and programs in the United States and Great Britain are compared. (MLW)

The status of foreign language education is discussed in the context of increased enrollments and the current fervor to raise academic standards generally. Problems related to the increased enrollments in high school language courses (audiolingually oriented), and the rather inflexible attitudes of college language departments (literature…

This presidential address sketches the development of the Linguistic Society of America since 1924, indicates the motives for its formation, and surveys its progress, status, and impact in the field of linguistics, both in the lay and scholarly spheres. The organization's role in the study of foreign languages, English, and English as a second…

This paper concerns languages for career training at the post-secondary level, with implications for FLES and secondary programs. The student desirous of utilizing a foreign language in a career other than literature and linguistics has very limited opportunity for adequate training in college. The job market for literature majors is, and will…

An overview of foreign language instruction is seen as a spectrum composed of five distinct areas. The speech includes discussion of concepts related to the curriculum, linguistics, psychology, culture, and a "Master Plan". The author comments on the importance of understanding that language instruction, as an academic pursuit, is directly related…