Emphasizes that as an answer to the demand of companies desiring to optimize their internal and external multilingual communication, the Didascalia center started the development of company-specific language courseware. Presents an overview of how Didascalia specified an answer to that demand and developed a solution. (Author/CK)

Examines the current status of optical technology, in particular the CD-ROM and its projected obsolescence due to DVD technology. The article focuses on the recent COBUILD release, addressing the rationale for integrating the learning of prefabricated items and collocations into the language learning syllabus. A unifying theme of this article is…

Examines the types of readings students are likely to encounter in the "real" world and how they will interact with them. The four approaches discussed include reading in a daily-life context, reading for information, reading for pleasure, and participatory reading. (21 references) (Author/CK)

Language syllabus or curriculum designing is examined studying the five basic syllabus types, the decision-making process in design development, and curriculum implementation within the educational system. A contingency syllabus design model is suggested as a suitable answer in harmonizing the many interactive components and adapting to changing…

Presents the results of a survey investigating foreign language needs in the legal profession. Questions in the survey focused on the foreign languages most relevant to the profession, entrance requirements regarding the level of knowledge of the foreign language, training requirements in the foreign language, and potential uses of the target…

The aim of this report is to present the findings of the second phase in a longitudinal study of the impact of changes in the TOEFL® test on teaching and learning in test preparation classrooms. The focus of this phase was to monitor six teachers from five countries in Central and Eastern Europe as they received news about changes in the TOEFL and…

"Globalized E-Learning Cultural Challenges" explores the issues educators, administrators, and instructional designers face when transferring knowledge and skills to other cultures through e-learning. Most e-learning courses have been designed in Western cultures, but the largest and fastest-growing consumer groups live in Eastern…

An alternative model for the 16+ examinations presently being tested by examining boards is suggested which would allow for differing levels of achievement for different student populations. (RM)

Examines extent to which teacher control of syllabus content, examination papers and examining techniques is practiced in the Yorkshire Regional Examinations Board's region. (RM)

The typical day of a student travelling in France is outlined, with discussion of the different types of language he would be exposed to. Ways in which classroom teaching can provide similar experience are suggested, and abilities involved in listening and reading which are not language-specific are discussed. (RM)

Understanding the inputs to syllabus design makes for practical and relevant syllabus planning. This article summarizes an attempt to combine the concept of register in language, as a basis for selecting authentic language material, with what is known about the learner's contribution to the acquisition of the target language. (CLK)

BY STUDYING VARIOUS FLES PROGRAMS, CERTAIN PROGRAM PATTERNS EMERGE THAT ARE WORTHY OF RECOMMENDATION FOR GENERAL IMPLEMENTATION. FOR EXAMPLE, THE THIRD OR FOURTH GRADE SHOULD BE THE OPTIMUM STARTING POINT FOR FLES, 15 TO 20 MINUTE CLASSES SHOULD BE HELD EARLY EACH DAY, CONSCIOUS ANALYSIS OF GRAMMAR SHOULD BE DIMINISHED, THE THREE-FOLD INTERPLAY OF…

A word of caution is needed about the tendency of language teachers to seize on simplistic and unproven solutions to complex problems. For example, the concept of individualization, when it is limited to having students work in isolation to fulfill mechanically-prescribed objectives, should be questioned. The so-called "systems approach" to…

Points out new directions of translation courses since the abolishment of foreign language requirements in many U.S. colleges. Describes the objectives, teaching methods, materials, problems and evaluation of an experimental course entitled "The Art of Translation." (TL)