University students, especially language learners, have increasingly been using machine translation (MT) systems in the last decade and for all kinds of texts, including homework, assignments and exams. This ubiquity does not translate into visibility as few teachers address the subject in class. Several researchers have shown that MT systems,…

Students gain a lasting impression of a course and of the instructor on the first day of class (Lang, 2019). In asynchronous online or hybrid classes, the equivalent of the first day of class is the Start Here module. This orientation module should contain essential information about class expectations and technology requirements and provide help…

Translanguaging practices come into play in social interactions between bilinguals when they are making use of all their shared linguistic resources and blending their languages in natural ways. Stemming from these practices is translanguaging pedagogy, which is designed so that students in school-based additive bilingual programs can benefit from…

This article describes how a course based on the concept of English for specific academic purposes (ESAP) was transformed into content and language integrated learning (CLIL) at a trilingual university where English serves as a lingua franca and medium of instruction, due to the application of a task-based communicative approach. The article…

Most pedagogical applications of wikis in foreign language education draw on this collaborative tool to improve (formal) writing skills or to develop target language cultural sensitivity, missing largely on the opportunity to support student-developed L2 content knowledge. Seeking an alternative to traditional teacher-centered approaches, this…

Describes an innovative program that systematically exposes second-language learners to the phonetic elements of French, including prosodic features of the language. The first half of the 12 one-hour lessons introduces active listening exercises, delaying oral production until lesson seven. The program's goals and instructional units are included.…

A text-editing approach to composition in the foreign language classroom is set forth. In a 15-week composition course meeting three times each week, students prepare a weekly composition that they will revise after an in-class text-editing session involving several student papers. The third day is devoted to grammar work. Criteria for evaluating…

Described an advanced college-level course on contemporary French culture which used popular songs, supplemented by readings and news articles, as the focus for presentations on cultural phenomena relating to geography and travel, the family, education, work and leisure, government, and daily life. (CB)

Describes networking options that could be helpful in creating business French courses or incorporating business materials in French throughout the foreign language curriculum. Partnerships with organizations, other faculty members, and students are suggested. (CB)

Describes Ohio University's course sequence designed to teach French and Spanish, through the use of print and broadcast media, to students majoring in journalism and other communication areas. Course development, funding, resources, speakers, and promotion are detailed. (CB)

Defends the incorporation of renowned French women writers into the French literature curriculum and suggests an implementation proposal for high school or college courses. A sample guide for ideas and techniques to stimulate thought, questions, and interpretations is also suggested. (Author/CB)

Discusses the theoretical basis for poetry's potential for the language acquisition process. The article presents a practical plan for the progressive integration of poetry into the language classroom and concludes that the process of poetic analysis aids the formation of critical reading and thinking skills. (26 references) (CK)

The design, materials, and content of a college-level course in the civilization of Quebec Province are described. The course covers aspects of the culture, including politics, and emphasizes oral skills for the discussion of issues. (MSE)

The undergraduate French major at the University of California at Davis was recently restructured from a dual-track program, with emphasis on language or literature, to a single major combining both disciplines. (CB)

Describes an attempt to design a first-year university French course along lines laid down by researchers associated with the Council of Europe and proponents of the communicative approach. Aspects discussed include approach and objectives, public, materials, activities, and evaluation. (Author/AMH)