This paper, presented in English and in Spanish, isolates one area of English for Academic Purposes, listening comprehension, and makes some preliminary suggestions as to factors that might be relevant in course planning and, particularly, in the design of materials. In preparing a language program, a highly instrumental approach should be…

A discussion of innovation in college and university intensive English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs uses a systems approach to analyze program elements (constituencies, decision-makers, purpose, performance measures, environments, resources, subsystems, and boundaries) and describes new program initiatives at the University of Pennsylvania.…

The development of specific university-level programs to prepare students for international employment or to enhance job opportunities in the United States can be achieved only through cooperation between foreign language departments and other departments. Foreign language educators and students must learn to relate to other fields, communicate…

A selective review is presented of the most recent theoretical pronouncements and practical applications of the interdisciplinary approach that are of significance to foreign language teachers and learners. The central focus is on problems and solutions within the two broad areas of institutional structures and curricula. Fifteen conclusions and…

Failures and successes in teaching commercial foreign languages will speak for themselves. However, the profession must not foster exaggerated expectations of mastery in such a broad field, but must state honestly and realistically, with clear limits, what the commercial language course's goals are. In a college course enrolling somewhat…

Describes the implementation of a first-year comprehension-based Spanish language program at New Mexico State University. Includes a discussion of the history of the program and of the problems encountered in changing a traditional curriculum. Also describes the materials, classroom practice, and testing and evaluation techniques used in the…

Emphasizes the need for cooperation and resource sharing among university foreign language departments as a means of ensuring their survival and enhancing their academic offerings. Some of the goals that could be achieved through this strategy include: new educational opportunities, improved quality of programs, planned diversity, cost avoidance…

Describes courses that were developed for travel industry management degree programs to teach French, Spanish, Japanese, and Mandarin. Discusses the development of these programs, focusing on the Japanese courses. Explains the type of background information that was collected prior to developing materials for the first- and second-year Japanese…

Trends in college foreign language requirements and enrollment are reviewed, and the experience of Carleton College is outlined. The college's efforts to strengthen languages' role in the upper division curriculum have included special efforts to create interesting courses and incentives for further study, extracurricular activities, study abroad,…

Provides a reference base for teachers concerned with problems and issues of teaching foreign languages to Afro-American students in the United States. Cites 51 journal articles, unpublished documents, and doctoral dissertations that discuss rationales for foreign language study by Black students and describe teaching strategies and curriculum…

A French curriculum development and research project at Erindale College (Canada), established in 1985, studies and initiates incorporation of computer technology into the University of Toronto French program. Specific objectives include evaluation and adaptation of existing software, development of an undergraduate course in computer applications…

This volume contains two papers, "German Studies in America," by Volkmar Sander, and "Historicism, Marxism, Structuralism: Ideas for German Culture Courses," by Heinz D. Osterle. The first paper discusses the position of German studies in the United States today. The greatest challenge comes from low enrollments; therefore,…

This report presents the results of a survey of innovative foreign language curricula in U.S. colleges and universities undertaken in 1974-75 by the Modern Language Association. The survey results published comprise three sections: (1) seventy-seven detailed curriculum reports including topics that are career-related, community-related,…

Curriculum is continually changing because it is based on needs of the student, needs of society, and subject-matter knowledge. In 1973, cultural, communication, and career goals assumed greater importance. Curriculum design involves consideration of interest and ability grouping, self pacing, mastery learning, multiple approaches to learning,…

Four papers presented at the conference on the applications of foreign languages and international studies to business focus on the use of German in international trade and the development of college German curricula for that purpose. The papers include the following: "Adding Business German to the German Curriculum: Obstacles, Strategies,…