The e-Lective Language Learning System is designed to promote language learning by incorporating target-language text and a variety of first- and second-language dictionary and learning-strategy supports into a multimedia CD-ROM design. Any text in electronic form can be imported into the system. It differs from conventional computer-assisted…

This article presents a model of formative task-based language assessment implemented in the Chinese language program at the University of Iowa. The model was conceptualized from both empirical evidence, namely previous research done by other team members and me, and assessment theory, namely task-based learning and testing. Our formative…

The purpose of this article is to highlight ways in which middle school content area teachers can more effectively assess English Language Learners (ELLs) in their classrooms. This article poses five questions to guide middle school content teachers in making adaptations and accommodations when using traditional classroom tests. The objective of…

Summarized in this report is an investigation involving the speaking and auditory comprehension skills in Spanish for secondary school students. Two objectives of the study were to organize the Spanish language into basic syntactic structures and to prepare a description of expected learner performance for each of the structures. Proposals, based…

This paper, a portion of a workshop presentation concerning language curriculum for the non-major, explores some of the reasons for the sad situation in which language programs find themselves today and makes some suggestions for some of the things which we need to do in order to make ourselves more attractive to the students, particularly to the…

This booklet consists of a list of instructional objectives and a content outline for the beginning and intermediate levels of the Montgomery County (Maryland) public ESL program. The publication was prepared to identify performance objectives and to provide guidelines for teachers and administrators, both for teaching and for forming realistic…

This curriculum guide is designed for a course based on Ovid's poetry. It includes a statement of the broad goals and performance objectives of the course, a summary of course content, suggestions for the expansion of material, sample evaluations, and a list of references. (PMP)

Most textbooks for teaching foreign languages have as their basis a grammatical syllabus. The theory has been that it is easier for students to learn a language if they are exposed to one part of the grammatical system at a time. Recently critics have questioned this theory, arguing that the grammatical syllabus fails to provide the necessary…

English for academic-purposes courses are often regarded as self-contained entities. Sufficient attention is paid neither to interrelations with other aspects of language teaching nor to relevant sources of research. Suggested areas of future investigation include language-teaching research and classroom research. (Author/CB)

Argues that a truly learner-centered approach in second language teaching should be concerned with allowing learners a greater role in the management of their learning by providing opportunities for learner choice in the method and scope of study. Reports on experiments in this approach at the University College of Bahrain. (SED)

Describes various projects of the Didascalia computer-assisted language-learning research center, reflecting major steps in the development of the center and illustrating facets of the prevailing bottom-up approach: from the general lexical programs towards the more contextualized, to the company specific, to the language testing programs. (15…

Describes a prototype of computer-assisted language learning software, "BUSCA," that attempts to bridge the gap between commercially available, but pedagogically unsound, Spanish Foreign Language learning programs. The article notes that "BUSCA" is designed to be integrated into a formal course to assist students to become…

Describes the contributions portfolios can make within a discourse community awareness framework through a "disciplinary portfolio" pedagogy. Outlines the case for such a pedagogy and describes a teaching situation in which the disciplinary portfolio has been employed within an English for academic purposes context. (34 references)…

Describes the bachelor of arts program in applied language at the University of Brighton, England, which combines second-language learning and linguistics. The limitations of the program as it was originally conceived are examined, as well as recent improvements. Course objectives, content, and teaching methods are discussed. (17 references) (MDM)

Discusses cross-cultural issues in the delivery of teacher training courses. Focuses on a 3-week training course that took place in the United Kingdom, describing the decisions made about content and process in light of an awareness and knowledge of specific national and educational cultures. (Author/VWL)