This article states that advanced composition skills must provide students with means of becoming independent writers, able to monitor their own writing and to know the means to solve problems of effective written communication. (Author/CFM)

Discusses the notion of "language needs" and suggests some learning activities designed to make second language learners aware of why they are studying the language while they are learning it. (AM)

Discusses the importance of clear objectives, pleasant learning atmosphere, and positive attitudes in the second language classroom handling low-ability students. A student questionnaire form is appended. (AM)

Describes a certificate program in German popular universities, designed for adult students of French and based on communication needs and linguistic objectives. (AM)

Outlines sample exercises developed in a program designed to teach minimal (threshold level) competencies based on students' communication needs and the concept of a notional syllabus. (AM)

Presents some classroom exercises based on the communication needs of adult students of French. (AM)

Learning to swim and learning a foreign language are analagous activities, in that both are skills learned for different reasons. Few foreign language students will attain "near-native fluency;" nor will many of them become interpreters or teachers. Foreign language teachers must therefore revise priorities, restructure courses, adjust methods,…