Suggests that there are three phases in the foreign language teaching/learning process through which the learner progresses from dependence on the teacher to independence in utterance. These phases are: (1) presentation, (2) precommunicative activity, and (3) communicative activity. The second phase, which is often passed over, is discussed in…

Describes a sequence for teaching the Russian passive construction to exemplify how a learning sequence based on a contrastive analysis and on error analysis can lessen student errors. These errors are caused either by interference from the first language or over-generalization in the second language. (PMJ)

Selected language acquisition research findings are examined in the light of the language teacher's daily needs. Research results are reported that provide an empirical basis for selecting and grading materials, determining skills to be taught and their order of presentation, deciding on classroom presentation and procedures, and formulating…