As the popularity of short-term teacher-facilitated language study abroad (SA) programs grows, it is becoming increasingly important to understand how classroom language-teaching methods can best be adapted to meet learners' overseas needs. However, adapting one's methods places high cognitive demands on teachers who may already be overburdened…

In this review article, we discuss the construct of second language (L2) comprehensibility, which refers to listeners' judgments of ease or difficulty in understanding L2 speech. We first briefly describe intelligibility and comprehensibility, two measures that capture listener understanding of L2 speech. We then present evidence that supports the…

Previous research has shown that English regular past-tense forms are difficult to perceive, yet perception studies to date have used experimentally manipulated input, and none has investigated how contextual cues, beyond temporal adverbials, affect the perception of the regular past. This study investigated whether second language (L2) learners…

This article capitalizes on the notion of linguistic risk-taking by focusing on a new pedagogical initiative at the University of Ottawa, an institution where courses, programs, and services in both English and French are available. In this bilingual context, we define linguistic risks as authentic communicative acts in learners' second official…

The concept of focus on form has been influential in second language (L2) acquisition and pedagogy. One example of the implementation of focus on form is a post-task activity (e.g., anticipation of a public performance) that can selectively orient learners toward increased levels of accuracy. The present research proposes a new operationalization…

The "Diplôme d'études de langue française" (DELF) has recently gained attention in Canada for its potential as a national French second language (FSL) proficiency test. This article explores the perceptions of students, teachers, and parents in various school jurisdictions across Canada on a range of issues related to the DELF test and…

Recent literature in second language (L2) perceived fluency has focused on English as a second language, with a primary reliance on impressions from native-speaker judges, leaving learners' self-perceptions of speech production unexplored. This study investigates the relationship between learners' and judges' perceptions of French fluency under…

Discusses the use of daily newspapers as both curriculum topic and instructional aid in teaching French as a second language and outlines class activities and techniques for use at all proficiency levels. (MSE)

The matching model of education, in which instructional activities are matched to the conceptual level (abstract to concrete) of the students, is recommended for second language instruction. Suggestions are made for varying the amount of structure in communication-centered activities. (MSE)

An annotated bibliography lists French language tests designed for core French, French immersion, or French native language instruction at the elementary and secondary levels. Citations include basic bibliographic information, intended population, grade or difficulty levels, brief descriptions of test sections or format, and approximate test…

This is an annotated bibliography of: readers, workbooks, conversation books, cultural sources and readings, flash cards, duplicating or line masters, and media kits submitted by publishers as applicable to French second language instruction from kindergarten through senior high school levels. (MSE)

Meaningful, comprehensible instructional materials that take into consideration the student's proficiency level are recommended for teaching communicative skills. Formulae developed for teaching various language functions (forms of socializing, showing emotion, judging, and getting information) and functional language rhetorical strategies are…

It is recommended that listening comprehension have a larger role in second-language instruction, particularly at intermediate/advanced levels. Sample materials focusing on the speech act of disagreement are proposed for university students of Italian. The materials expose students to a variety of registers and strategies and integrate language…

Describes a program in which intermediate students of French as a second language wrote and illustrated short stories to be used as reading materials by beginning and other intermediate students. The activity provided both purposeful, satisfying writing experience and a substantial collection of texts, including children's stories, fables,…

A study examined the conversations of eight groups of high school students in a level three Spanish class during a jigsaw speaking task, and compared their language use patterns with those of intermediate-level learners of English as a Second Language. Results suggest both similarities and differences. Choice of language is also considered. (17…