The unit on language is designed for presentation to middle school, junior high, and senior high gifted students. Information on objectives, materials, and presentation guidelines is presented for eight lessons on the following topics: purposes and process of language, successful/unsuccessful communication, precise/imprecise communication,…

This catalogue of curriculum units for French, Spanish and German is presented in the hope that foreign language learning can be made exciting and that foreign languages can become functional languages for students. The curriculum units are context-oriented and are intended as models for teacher-developed materials. They are listed by language,…

This study tested the hypothesis that a 6-month, half-day program of enrichment in language and Piagetian sensorimotor skills tailored to the cognitive-developmental level of infants would accelerate the development of participating infants. The experimental population consisted of 16 12-month-old infants attending enrichment sessions at Syracuse…

This guide incorporates the recommendations and suggestions of project teachers who were involved in establishing a secondary English program for low achieving, disadvantaged students. The ultimate purpose of the program is to foster successful language experiences which can improve students' self-concepts. The guide is divided into sections on…

The knowledge of foreign languages must be based on reasoning and logical insight, and second language instruction must move from the pragmatically based courses of recent years towards a new approach in which language is seen as a means to action, and where analysis, synthesis, and correct use will occupy a central position. (CB)

A review of literature regarding the communicative approach to language teaching discusses achievements and problems with this approach, language learning and the social self, speech and cognition, and reactive and proactive initiative. The need to develop language learning environments which will enhance proactive initiative and self-reliance in…

Addresses issues involved in the acquisition of English as a foreign language (EFL) outside of the classroom and the conflict this often creates with English learned within the classroom. Some suggestions for development of future EFL syllabi are made to ensure the creation of effective, relevant resources. (Author/CB)

Combines Marxist notions of ideology with the theory of reader response to reveal the subjectivity of reading, in general. Foreign language reading, in particular, not only involves the understanding of text but the cultural and literary aspects of the target language as well. (CB)

Suggests guidelines for administrators regarding ways in which technology can be used to benefit language learners. The recommendations cover level of engagement; facilities; access to materials; development support staff; colleague networking; collegiate coordination and support; released time for faculty; student assistance; collaboration with…

Describes a project that consisted of a school and a community working together to compile a "trictionary," a Chinese, Spanish, and English dictionary. (DF)

Describes a course that uses translation of literary French into English to heighten students' awareness of the two languages and of literary composition. (AM)

A survey-interview exercise is described as it evolved through English-as-a-second-language students' efforts to develop better spoken language skills. The exercise provided students with experience in using spoken English in interaction, learning first-hand about local ideas and attitudes, and reflecting on and discussing the experience in the…

Describes the activities and objectives of an intensive summer institute on language awareness for elementary school teachers. Evaluation of the institute included home school visits and found two benefits of the institute: (1) increased awareness and tolerance for language and cultural differences, and (2) significant practical applications of…

Explores the few studies that compare the psycholinguistic processes characterizing second language acquisition in the classroom and native-speaking environments. A description of a study that found that, although intermediate Spanish students extensively monitored language usage in both environments, their monitored knowledge was still quite…

A language teacher's Japanese-language learning experiences in educational and immersion environments lead to assertions about the ineffectiveness of exclusive use of traditional instructional methodologies; exclusive dependence on osmosis for developing fluency; instructional materials that students perceive as beneath them; and assumptions that…