The development of second language skills through teaching modified subject matter content has the potential for assisting limited-English-proficient (LEP) students in development of the academic language skills they need to participate successfully in the mainstream classroom. Rather than focusing on language forms and functions alone,…

In recent years, a number of articles have been written concerning the value of instruction in second language acquisition and the type of instruction that is most valuable for second language learners. Consequently, the place of the teaching of grammar in the second language classroom is being questioned. Generally, much of the research seems to…

This curriculum guide is designed to be used in conjunction with the text "Artes Latinae," units 1-10. The course focuses on the listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills as well as on cultural background material. Emphasis is placed on developing a positive student attitude toward language learning. The student moves at his own…

Describes an advanced, nonliterary Spanish course which can be adapted to high school classes. (EKN)

Argues that the increasing number of non-specialist students of French in British universities requires an investigation of the adequacy of "general purpose" syllabi, grammars, and methodologies. Suggests that the effective design of syllabi and methodologies for specific purposes students is enhanced through detailed analysis of a…

Discusses a graduate course that prepares language teachers by emphasizing ways to tailor instruction to learners' needs and demonstrates multiple forms of collaboration. Course participants discuss their collaborative learning experiences and their expectations for using such approaches in their own teaching. (14 references) (Author/CK)

Language awareness, integral to language education in Europe, now influences Canadian second-language programs. The General Language Education (GLE) Syllabus of the "National Core French Study" endeavors to foster language proficiency and tolerance of linguistic and cultural diversity and encourages students to develop their own learning…

Argues that teaching about Italian dialects ought to form an integral part of the Italian curriculum and offers ideas on what could be included in such a course. Points out that the study of these dialects can teach students about the history and synchronic structures of standard Italian as well as the role of Italian sociolinguistics as it…

Examines the conflict between students' focus on learning the grammar and vocabulary of a foreign language instead of considering the culture that lies beneath the target language, in this case, Italian. Suggestions are made for overcoming the practical difficulty of imposing a language as a cultural entity upon the students. (25 references) (CK)

Overviews recent developments in immersion language programs in Australia, contrasting the Australian experience with that of other countries. Findings indicate that the most promising developments at the tertiary level are teacher education programs with content-based instruction in the target language and an emerging focus on combining intensive…

Presents data on the comparative efficacy of tonal spelling and diacritics in the teaching of Mandarin Chinese pronunciation. Results indicate that the tonal spelling system did not lead to significantly greater accuracy in tonal production but reflected slightly lower rates of tonal production accuracy for native speakers of both American English…

Discusses the dichotomy between traditional expectations of advanced courses and the actual capabilities of many of the present generation of language students. One result of this dichotomy has been the disappearance of medieval and philological studies from the teaching programs of most modern- language degree schemes in the United Kingdom. (CK)

Discusses problems inherent in the content of modern language syllabuses. True communication occurs when the focus of classroom activities is on the message. The success of the lesson derives from the quality of the presentation and, crucially, the vocabulary list and the pupils' prior knowledge of the concepts underlying the content. (six…

Presents the results of research designed to explore the possibilities of expanding the number of students in Arabic studies departments and to develop recommendations for admissions policies and course structures. There is a need for cooperation among Arabic departments on innovation in language teaching and for an improved image of Arabic…

After a brief introduction to the development of New Phonics, an innovative course designed for Japanese English-as-a-foreign-language learners, this article describes the contents of the course for beginners, i.e., the techniques, exercises, and teaching materials for grade 7.(Author/VWL)