The present study compared individual and collaborative vocabulary learning through two types of reading-based pedagogical tasks in an online elementary Arabic classroom. Fifty-two beginner learners of Arabic completed a pretest, a story-based task (either multiple-choice or gap-fill) with embedded novel vocabulary, and two posttests over a 2-week…

Online language teaching has become a reality for many foreign language programs that have been forced to teach remotely. When developing an online language teaching curriculum (beyond a simple emergency teaching patch), it is important to uphold the same rigor and base our curriculum in methodological and pedagogic choices based on second…

The present study examined the impact of a service learning activity on students' perceptions of language, identity, and community in an advanced Spanish for the Health Professions course. Forty-five advanced Spanish heritage learners (SHLs) participated in health fairs as assistants to health-care providers as part of the curriculum requirements.…

This study explored whether form-focused instruction (FFI) and peer corrective feedback (CF) facilitated vocabulary development during peer interaction (PI). Third-semester learners of German were assigned to a PI group (peer interaction only), PI FFI group (peer interaction and form-focused instruction), or PI FFI CF group (peer interaction,…

Active learning emerged as a new approach to learning in the 1980s. The core concept of active learning involves engaging students not only in actively exploring knowledge but also in reflecting on their own learning process in order to become more effective learners. Because the nonalphabetic nature of the Chinese writing system makes learning to…

Many scholars have argued that an intercultural approach to foreign language instruction best reflects the inherent interconnectedness of language and culture. However, abundant evidence of the effectiveness of such an approach is lacking, particularly at the secondary level. This two-year curricular experiment, which took place in two public high…

Describes a practical approach to using a microcomputer for controlling a random access audio device for providing flexible interactive practice in foreign language listening comprehension. The audio passages available at a given point in a lesson are determined by the lesson author and can include hints, translations, cultural notes, and slower…

As educators target the articulation between university lower-division language acquisition courses and upper-division literature courses, higher order thinking and awareness of cognitive processes become increasingly important tools in bridging the gap. This article discusses the theoretical underpinnings of this issue and demonstrates the design…

A foreign language learning activity is described in which second-through fourth-year French students write, cast, produce, direct and perform well-known fables for their language classes. The performances are recorded on videotape and shown to other classes and to parents. (Author/RM)

A description of the twenty learning center units for advanced classes developed by the French and Spanish teacher-participants. Learning centers permit students to work independently at well-defined tasks. The units deal with housing, shopping, cooking, transportation, sports, fiestas, literature, history, architecture, painting, and music.…

Describes the efforts made at one school to provide language students with contacts with international visitors. (KM)

Presents pedagogical arguments for integrating Web-based student pages into intermediate and upper-level foreign language courses. Shows how Web-based student pages used for community-building activities and the presentation of culture projects contribute to meeting the five Cs--communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and…

This article focuses on a qualitative teacher research project with a fourth-semester university Spanish class that emphasized inquiry-based learning. One of the primary objectives of the class was to increase learner autonomy through self-selected inquiries, self-directed learning activities, and curricular negotiation. Multiple data sources were…

Recent research has recommended increased use of the target language; the use of cognitive, metacognitive, and prosocial strategies; and cooperative learning to help achieve oral proficiency and communication within the classroom. This paper describes a 21-day research action project involving 2 Spanish 2 honors classes and several cooperative…