Revised version of a paper read on June 17, 1969, at a conference at the Hessian Institute for Continuing Teacher Education. (DS)

Examined whether newborns were able to discriminate different stress patterns in multisyllabic stressed Italian words that varied both in consonants and in number of syllables. Found that newborns were sensitive to words' rhythm, as carried by stress patterns, and that this prosodic information was salient even in the presence of substantial…

Examines reliability issues in the large-scale assessment of speech communication through authentic techniques, used recently in Saskatchewan. Performance-based approaches enable educators to evaluate the integrated, interpersonal communication skills of large student populations, thereby modeling best professional practice. However, decentralized…

Eight different activities are suggested for the foreign language conversation class in order to vary the textbook emphasis. Among the suggested situations are a "last people on earth" session, sensitivity sessions, descriptions of paintings or photos, an improvised drama, and a mock trial. (CHK)

AN ORGANIZATIONAL PLAN BASED ON THE USE OF SCHEDULE MODULES OFFERS A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WELL-ARTICULATED FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAM FROM ELEMENTARY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. A THREE-TRACK SEQUENCE IS SUITABLE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS WISHING TO PROVIDE SUCH A PROGRAM. WITH THIS PLAN STUDENTS CAN BEGIN FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY IN GRADE…

WAYS ARE SUGGESTED FOR USING THE "AUDIO ADAPTER" IN THE LANGUAGE LABORATORY TO HELP DEVELOP THE SPEAKING SKILLS OF ADVANCED STUDENTS. A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE AUDIO ADAPTER, A TYPE OF JUNCTION BOX, IS GIVEN, ALONG WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTING IT. FOUR TYPES OF SPEAKING PRACTICE ARE DESCRIBED--(1) FREE CONVERSATION, WITH STUDENTS WORKING…

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…

This report consists of two papers devoted to the learning of English in the comprehensive high schools of Hessia, West Germany. The first paper discusses a study which suggests replacement of traditional methods by an audiolingual approach. A catalog of learning goals supplants outdated curriculums, thereby ensuring a stepwise progression of…

For bringing students to the point of free discourse, the dialog is especially suitable. The various types of dialog are discussed, and the various steps through which the student must go. Hints are given for producing dialogs useful for teaching FL. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

The goal of the Manual/Simultaneous Communication Department (M/SCD) at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) is to assist deaf students in developing communication skills. (Author)

Use of challenge questioning is an approach to stimulating classroom conversation in a foreign language. Students ask questions, based on a reading selection, whose answers are not clearly given in the text. The instructor or other students are challenged to respond, and spontaneous conversation is facilitated. (CHK)

An extra-curricular Russian course in York, England, is outlined. Course materials and texts are described. Intensive oral skills introduction sets the stage for development of other skills; speaking and listening skills at the end of the course are impressive. Reading is done as homework and related to aural-oral development. (CHK)

This booklet, developed by England's Department for Education and Employment, provides information and teaching strategies to support the teaching of speaking and listening skills and develop confidence as speakers and listeners, by providing models, carefully planned activities and tasks that promote different kinds of talk and listening, and…