Unintended outcomes can derail the best of intentions in the classroom. Designing a new course for Honors students provided an opportunity to change my traditional teaching style. I envisioned a classroom where students enthusiastically became more self-directed learners. I was perplexed with mixed reactions from students; while some joined me and…

In this article, the author describes the place of the oral proficiency guidelines as the only nationally recognized criteria for the assessment of communicative competence in speaking across languages and discusses learning outcomes studies based on the proficiency guidelines. The guidelines are now 20 years old, but learning outcomes are not…

Describes the Music Honors Program in Millburn (NJ) High School. Discusses student selection, program characteristics, and the importance of public performances. Concludes that the program helps maintain student interest in music and gives music more equitable status within the school curriculum. (CFR)

Foreign language teachers who study abroad need language instruction that will increase language proficiency and develop fluency and refinement in language use. Cultural learning can be part of study abroad through community assignments. Literature and other courses must be preceded by courses which establish a certain level of proficiency in…