This handbook describes the nature, uses, and limitations of the Modern Language Association of America (MLA) language proficiency tests for teachers and advanced students. The proficiency tests are examined in seven areas of language teaching competence: listening comprehension, speaking, reading, writing, applied linguistics, civilization and…

This fourteenth in a series of twenty-nine learning modules on instructional execution is designed to give secondary and postsecondary vocational teachers help in understanding the unique learning characteristics of different groups of students and in planning instruction so that the specific needs of slower and more capable learners can be…

This report describes the Center for Career Education in the Arts' (CCEA) alternative training program for artistically gifted and talented high school students interested in pursuing careers in the visual arts, dance, music, theatre, and writing. Following an introduction, hypothesis statement, and identification of project goals, the first of…

In 1973 an innovative, interdisciplinary global studies course was instituted at a secondary school in Ontario. Designed for advanced students at the grade 13 level, the course emphasized science, language arts, and mathematics issues in terms of the world's environmental and social problems. Rationale for the course included an awareness of the…

The precollege program in the sciences at the University of Iowa is described, along with program developments during its history, aspects of interest to other institutions, and issues for institutions to consider in starting a similar program. (MSE)

This collection of papers examines approaches to teaching near-native ability in foreign languages. The 13 papers focus on the following: (1) "Principles and Practices in Teaching Superior-Level Language Skills: Not Just More of the Same" (Betty Lou Leaver and Boris Shekhtman); (2) "Toward Academic Level Foreign Language Abilities:…

The purpose of this study is to investigate how ten advanced Taiwanese English as a Foreign Language college students comprehend and interpret two English short stories--"The Discus Thrower" and "A Passage to India." Two types of data were gathered for this study: verbal self-reporting and post-reading responses. Oral…

This paper addresses beginning level Spanish heritage language (SHL) learners' attitudes towards their language and culture. Heritage language (HL) programs and research have often overlooked beginning level learners, especially within university settings. The current study involved 20 participants from a beginning level SHL class in the…

A university teacher of English as a Second Language describes the use of CNN Newsroom materials to teach listening skills. The basic news broadcast materials, including video and audio tapes, are provided by CNN, and have been developed by the teacher into instructional units. A classroom guide is available on the Internet. The instruction is…

This study compares the performances of 16 advanced and 19 beginning English language learners on a listening comprehension task that focused on linguistic and pragmatic processing. Processing pragmatic meaning differs from processing linguistic meaning because pragmatic meaning requires the listener to understand not only linguistic information,…

Data on public and private secondary schools that offer advanced placement programs--that is, courses for which college credit is awarded--are provided in this survey report. information on school characteristics and the nature of the program offerings (information not included in College Entrance Examination Board publications) was collected by…

Major concepts and generalizations related to economics and American government are presented. The syllabus is intended for 12th grade social studies teachers. Using the guide, teachers develop and implement strategies which will help students understand more advanced economic and political concepts. Introductory sections provide an overview of…