This guide is intended to help instructors of business Spanish select appropriate texts for their students. Presenting capsule reviews of 12 of the leading texts currently available in business Spanish, it contains information on the level, focus, pedagogical approach, content, types of exercises, and strengths and weaknesses of each text. (SL)

Introduces a critical methodology for students approaching literary French texts of the Classical period, such as Moliere. Suggests that greater understanding of the material leads to greater enjoyment. It is concluded that this type of instruction need not be limited to students of French, but rather, students of all languages could profit from…

Suggests that effects of microcomputers on foreign language learning and education depends to a large extent on social and educational contexts within which they are imbedded. It is maintained that teachers themselves are the ultimate agents of educational improvement and change and thus must be continually provided with information and resources…

Explores three problems emerging since transfer of Canadian English as second language teaching method to People's Republic of China: (1) assumption that teaching methodologies are exportable and acceptable in same way as modern technology, (2) lack of clarity between scientific and educational theories, and (3) assumption that these teaching…

Like all learning situations, second language classrooms contain unique sets of learners, available materials, variable physical structures, and individual teachers. All of these factors receive further definition from the total school and community surroundings, as well as changes in clientele, curricular models favored at one time or another,…

Discusses the differences between language-centered teaching and learning-centered teaching methods with reference to recent trends in language program and syllabus design and innovative proposals. Also considers the reasons for the adoption and influence of methods. (SL)

In order to avoid the early problems of computer assisted instruction and the language lab, and to achieve maximum effectiveness and efficiency of student learning, foreign language teachers need to become proficient in the following three areas: (1) computer literacy; (2) software literacy; and (3) application literacy. (SL)

Discusses the lack of emphasis on writing skills in elementary and intermediate language classes, the purpose and process of writing, and general recommendations for the incorporation of writing into the language curriculum. Contains specific examples of writing tasks, including the composition of telegrams, recipes, postcards, directions, and…

Focuses on basic principles that can be followed in planning a language course, by observing examples from a course designed to teach English as a second language to newly arrived adult migrants in Australia. In addition, the importance of identifying both long-term goals and immediate objectives is stressed, in terms of communicative proficiency…

When developing large computer-assisted instructional (CAI) courseware packages, it is suggested that there be more attentive planning to the overall package design before actual lesson development is begun. This process has been simplified by modifying the systems approach used to develop single CAI lessons, followed by planning for the…

Discusses positive and negative aspects of teaching language use--the Communicative Approach. While the Communicative Approach is learner-centered and develops the students' communicative competence, the design and current tactics of this methodology are criticized as being "decontextualized" and "abstracted." (SL)

Discusses the course "Weimar Culture" as a means of encouraging further German study and as an alternative to a literature course. Outlines the course readings and viewings, the major problems and areas of concentration, and the focal point of each unit. (EKN)

Presents a research project focusing on the problem of linking computer-based materials with the teaching unit as a whole. Describes the kind of programs developed at the University of Wuppertal, which is one of the few places in Germany currently investigating various approaches to computer assisted language learning. (SL)

Stresses importance of student input in field of computer-assisted language instruction. Provides an overview of student input, its recognition, and some uses of its recognition. By understanding the potential of student-computer interaction, those who are considering the computer for use in their foreign language curriculum may be able to…

Presents an overview of activities in field of computer-assisted language learning at the University of Dundee (Scotland). These include: (1) use and testing of a self-instructional teacher's package, (2) development of the computer-controlled tape recorder, (3) cloze-type gapping exercises, and (4) projects aimed at the word processing component…