In 1978 Illinois embarked on a comprehensive statewide program to improve and expand the teaching of foreign languages and international studies in the schools of the state. The state superintendent appointed a task force of 20 leaders representing all sectors of the civic and educational community. The task force's report, delivered in 1979,…

Current Affairs is offered as an option to literary texts for students of French working toward the Victorian Higher School Certificate. (Author)

Following introduction of a reform program by the Ministry of Culture in the FRG, French has slumped in the upper level gymnasium curriculum. Reasons for this are discussed, including students' opinions. Suggests less rigid requirements and more generous grading policies. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

The desirability of learning the foreign civilization in conjunction with learning a foreign language is discussed, and an approach to civilization study to be incorporated in foreign language study is set out. (RM)

The article reports on work in progress on the preparation of a textbook for elementary Russian. Arguments are advanced for the presentation of highly marked and more differentiated material at an early stage. Also discussed are problems of the quantity of material to be presented and the introduction of vocabulary. (CLK)

The second-year French course at Dalhousie University was divided into two semesters and redesignated as separate, half-credit courses, allowing science students to complete the basic program in less than two years and allowing the others more options for the second semester. (RM)

Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest, Illinois, has developed a program for introducing Portuguese in the secondary school. The program is now in its sixth successive, successful year. Instead of being included in the curriculum as a full-time course, Portuguese falls in the category of an "enrichment course." It is abbreviated (the first year…

Basic assumptions implicit in course design for foreign languages are examined. The course must first satisfy the basic needs of the learner, later his sociolinguistic or psycholinguistic needs. Relevance of materials is looked at in terms of framework of a course, role of situational teaching, and conduct of the lesson. (SCC)

Defines "global education" and urges foreign language teachers to establish dialogue with global educators to determine whether they want to or can be a contributing part of global education. Components and goals of global education are also discussed. (EJS)

In university level English as a second language classes, massive vocabulary instruction should begin as soon as possible and the status of lexical knowledge should be given greater emphasis. Traditional views in favor of emphasizing the teaching of syntactic structures are challenged. (SW)

Promotes the use of international broadcasting as a rich source of spoken text for foreign language learning. A basic knowledge of this technology is stressed, including types of broadcasts, times, frequency/wavelength, transmission modes, propagation variation, reception techniques, and program schedules. In addition, choice and use of equipment…

The use of radio material for foreign language study is not new, but it has largely been limited to students at the advanced level. The concept of listening to authentic material at a very early stage of language learning is promoted, and using radio commercials effectively as supplementary materials in language classes is discussed. (SL)

Discusses the status of foreign language learning in connection with the humanities, and suggests a redefinition of the mission of the foreign language department in the research university. It is proposed that students be trained in language teaching skills in combination with branches of the humanities other than literature, without neglecting…