This publication contains Arizona public schools' academic standards for grade 2. The contents of this document include the following: (1) The Arts Standard 2006--Grade 2; (2) Comprehensive Health Education/Physical Activity Standards 1997--Foundations (Grades 1-3); (3) Foreign and Native Language Standards 1997--Foundations (Grades 1-3); (4)…

This publication contains Arizona public schools' academic standards for grade 4. The contents of this document include the following: (1) The Arts Standard 2006--Grade 4; (2) Comprehensive Health Education/Physical Activity Standards 1997--Essentials (Grades 4-8); (3) Foreign and Native Language Standards 1997--Essentials (Grades 4-8); (4)…

This publication contains Arizona public schools' academic standards for grade 6. The contents of this document include the following: (1) The Arts Standard 2006--Grade 6; (2) Comprehensive Health Education/Physical Activity Standards 1997--Essentials (Grades 4-8); (3) Foreign and Native Language Standards 1997--Essentials (Grades 4-8); (4)…

Issues regarding the development of student's speaking skills and English as a second language (ESL) techniques designed to improve the teaching of conversation are described. Ten true and false assumptions about the teaching of conversation are considered: (1) everyone enjoys talking and participating in class discussion; (2) discussion topics in…

A study compared the results of administration of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages/Educational Testing Service (ACTFL/ETS) oral proficiency interview and those of two laboratory-administered Modern Language Association tests, one in the listening mode and one in the speaking mode. The comparative study was undertaken to…

Techniques for alleviating language students' fears of listening to themselves and making themselves heard and understood, using reading aloud, are presented and illustrated. (MSE)

A study investigated the usefulness of dictation for measuring communicative competence and oral proficiency in English as a second language. Two methods of scoring dictation were used: a scale of communicative effectiveness, and the traditional error count. (MSE)

It is proposed that language acquisition improves if beginning students are allowed to experience three stages of acquisition: comprehension (preproduction), early speech production, and speech emergence. Each stage requires a different kind of activity building on the previous stage's development. (MSE)

Describes the development of the Clwyd Graded Objectives Scheme in French. Tests were developed in which the context of the questions and the language used were authentic and covered the skills of listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Discusses each of these test components and the way in which they were graded. (SED)

Hesitation serves many purposes, allowing us to choose and combine words better, make discourse more cohesive and regulate its flow, and think. Frequency and length varies with the cognitive activity, but is not always easy to interpret. Foreign language instruction can help students interpret hesitations and use them to advantage. (MSE)

The process of teaching a class of adult students of diverse language background the linguistic and conceptual skills necessary for debate in French is described. Students studied the construction of persuasive discourse through the use of articulating terms and phrases and analyzed their use in producing coherent argument in texts. (MSE)

This document is intended to assist curriculum developers in the review and revision of ESL curricula to ensure alignment to the overarching goal of teaching English language learners to use English to achieve academically in all content areas. This document is organized around the goals and standards of the New Jersey language arts literacy…

The validity of written cloze tests for measuring oral skills was evaluated by comparing cloze test scores with recorded interviews. It was concluded that the tests may be a good indirect measure of oral ability. The advantages of these tests include ease of construction, administration, and scoring. (MSE)

Describes a unique language learning activity using the whole language approach in a tertiary level lower advanced reading and speaking course. Following a semester long theme on crime and punishment, students were introduced to an authentic, idiomatic text dealing with a famous murder case in U.S. history. (Author/VWL)

Describes several techniques using older technology to develop listening and speaking skills, and explains how readily available materials (transparencies, slides and tape shows, miming and pairing, commercial video, audiotapes, videotapes) can be used effectively in the classroom as well as in the laboratory. (seven references) (GLR)