This paper discusses bilingualism from the point of view of language universals, including Fillmore's case grammar, McCawley's "anywhere rules" for lexical insertions and Slobin's operating principles in first language acquisition. It is assumed that first and second language learning is essentially the same, regardless of age. Whereas…

This article summarizes the content of the discussions at the 1977 M.L.T.A.V. Congress. The main issues were the relationship between language and culture, the aims and objectives of language teaching, problems of motivation and individualization, school language policies, examinations, and teacher training. (CFM)

Marked incongruity exists between the present language teaching system in Australia and the nation's social structure. Few of the languages spoken in the community by major ethnic groups are taught in the schools and little effect of the society's pluralism is evident in objectives and methods. Three causes of this situation are examined, and new…

This paper argues that an elitist concept regarding foreign language study and absolute criteria for such study have made foreign language study insensitive to the needs of an increasingly larger proportion of the student population in New South Wales, including even the most able students. In discussing this viewpoint, the paper examines: (1) the…

Discusses the importance foreign language study should have in the Australian school curriculum. (CFM)

German studies have expanded in the last 25 years in Australia. In 1974 the Goethe Institute conducted developmental conferences for German teachers, in cooperation with Australian universities and school authorities. Twelve universities have fully developed Germanistic Institutes. The Australian government has subsidized increasing numbers of…

Presents an overview of the Chinese language teaching situation in Victoria, Australia. (KM)

Australia has a need for trained interpreters, particularly to work in social services involving immigrants. Training courses have begun for such interpreters, one at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. This course aims toward bilingual fluency and teaches communication skills and both Australian and foreign sociology. (CHK)

The author reports on the organization and methodology of her Japanese program for the primary grades in Canberra, Australia. (PMP)

The need to broaden the perspective of foreign language study in order to make it available to the majority of secondary students and the place of foreign languages in the curriculum are discussed. This paper suggests that foreign language study be considered a social study. The evidence cited here supports such a conception of foreign language…

Reasons that foreign languages have both cultural and pragmatic-vocational contributions are discussed. Reasons for the decline in foreign language study in Australia and ways to reverse the present trends are presented. (SW)

Extracts are given from the 78-page survey which deals with the changing pattern of enrollments in university language courses and with changes in range, structure and orientation of university language courses. An address from which the full report may be obtained is given. (RM)

Paper presented at the Modern Language Teachers Association of South Australia Seminar, September 1972. (DD)