Listening to podcasts with a sole purpose to enhance communication abilities of L2 students is a great challenge. This study explored the challenges and attitudes of second language (L2) students when listening to authentic sources, specifically video podcasts on YouTube. Data of this qualitative research was collected through in-depth interviews…

This study describes how oral language was assessed in an advanced-level college foreign language (FL) conversation course. Learners used the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Proficiency Guidelines to guide self-analyses of their oral production at intervals throughout the course. The intent was to provide opportunities for…

In this study, I investigate the use and integration of iPads in an advanced German conversation class. In particular, I am interested in analyzing how students learn with this new technology and how it affects the development of their oral proficiency level. Overall, my results suggest that iPads are well suited to practice listening and speaking…

Shortened and revised form of an address presented in July 1971 at the Third International Conference of Teachers of German (3. Internationale Deutschlehrertagung) in Salzburg, Austria. (RS)

Stressing that advanced foreign learners of English must be exposed to spontaneous speech if they are to develop their powers to speak and comprehend under conversational conditions, the author presents suggestions for preparing tape recordings which will give students the chance to hear natural conversation in the language laboratory. (FB)

This final report describes the development of a textbook for advanced, spoken Tamil. There is a marked dirrerence between literary Tamil and spoken Tamil, and training in the former is not sufficient for speaking the language in everyday situations with reasonably educated native speakers. There is difficulty in finding suitable material that…