Cognates are known to facilitate second language acquisition and use, as learners tend to assign to a new L2 word the meaning of a similar L1 word. Consequently, for L2 tests that rely largely on lexical items, performance may prove inflated for examinees whose L1 shares many cognates with the language being tested. This article examines the…

An experimental "oral survival" French course is described. Role playing, discussions of reading assignments, a taped mystery thriller and educational games were used to force students to speak French and to lose their inhibitions against speaking. Testing showed students' French speaking ability to be much improved. (CHK)