The communicative approach has brought second language instruction a long way from strict grammar-oriented pedagogy, carrying with it a return to meaning, less repetition, emphasis on the learner, and attention to the social and pragmatic aspects of communication. (MSE)

Examines practical ways to improve the quality of Russian language instruction in higher education. The article reviews briefly chapters from two recently revised Russian textbooks, suggests a move from a grammar-based to a communicative syllabus, and notes difficulties and rewards in switching to a notional-functional syllabus. (SM)

In this article the influence of linguistic science on language teaching is traced from the mid-nineteenth century through the present. The earlier concepts of universal logical grammar, formal discipline, and transfer of training are explained. Linguistic development is charted through behaviorism and formal analysis to the combination of…