This article reports on the design and use of a profiler for lexical sophistication (i.e., use of advanced vocabulary), which was created to assess the lexical richness of intermediate and advanced Swedish second language (L2) learners' French and Italian. It discusses how teachers' judgments (TJs) of word difficulty can contribute to the…

Discusses the importance of vocabulary acquisition in second language instruction, viewing it as central to the learning process. The interplay among words, meanings, and situations is considered, and various types of exercises are examined to determine when and how vocabulary can best be brought into focus. (MES)

Reviews the history, principles, merits, and weaknesses of "Fundamental French" (FF) as seen 25 years after its elaboration. Focuses on the two chief components of this approach, a frequency based vocabulary and a thematic vocabulary, and discusses options open to present-day linguists for a reevaluation of FF. (MES)

AN EXPERIMENTAL, COLLEGE-LEVEL, ELEMENTARY FRENCH COURSE WAS ORGANIZED, IMPLEMENTED, AND EVALUATED. THE COURSE WAS APPROXIMATELY EQUIVALENT TO TWO ELEMENTARY AND TWO INTERMEDIATE SEQUENCES IN THE CONVENTIONAL PATTERN, ALLOWING 15 CREDIT HOURS FOR AN AVERAGE WORKING PERIOD OF THREE ACADEMIC SEMESTERS. THE EMPHASIS OF THE COURSE WAS ON INTENSIVE…

AN EXPERIMENTAL ELEMENTARY FRENCH COURSE WAS ESTABLISHED AT THE UNIVERSITY LEVEL AND EVALUATED ON ITS PEDAGOGICAL EFFICIENCY, ADMINISTRATIVE FEASIBILITY, AND ACHIEVEMENT-MOTIVATIONAL CAPABILITY. THE COURSE FEATURED INTENSIVE CONTACT WITH LINGUISTICS, SELF-INSTRUCTION, AND SELF-PACING. (FOR DETAILS ON THE COURSE ORGANIZATION, SEE ED 010 465, A…