A TWO-YEAR EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO DEVELOP "BILINGUAL READINESS" WAS UNDERTAKEN IN KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE CLASSES IN NEW YORK CITY. TWO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, ONE IN A POVERTY AREA AND ONE IN A MIDDLE CLASS AREA, WERE CHOSEN FOR THE STUDY. EFFORTS WERE MADE TO CHOOSE SIX KINDERGARTEN AND SIX FIRST GRADE CLASSES COMPOSED OF EQUAL NUMBERS…

SUGGESTIONS FOR ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A FLES PROGRAM (FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS) ARE GIVEN. THE GUIDE EXAMINES THE CONSIDERATIONS AND PRINCIPLES THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN PLANNING THE PROGRAM, AND DISCUSSES OBJECTIVES, BASIC ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT LANGUAGE LEARNING, RESEARCH IN FLES, AND THE ROLE OF THE FLES TEACHER. INCLUDED ARE…

To investigate the television teaching of foreign languages in the elementary schools (specifically that of Spanish in the Detroit school system) based on the philosophy of FLES, the following factors were studied: (1) the historical background of foreign-language teaching methodology, of television teaching techniques; and of the emergence and…

This article describes a program in Buenos Aires at the tertiary level offering certification in elementary education plus language certification. The program is bilingual (English/Spanish); courses and methods are described. (CHK)

Project CLASS (Chinese Language Achievement through Sequential Study), a federally-funded program, introduced the study of Chinese language and culture at Queen Ka'ahumanu Elementary School (Hawaii), forming the foundation of an instructional program to be continued through middle and high school, to meet state foreign language standards. It was…

An Italian program integrating second language instruction into the elementary school curriculum is described. The program is seen as a forward-looking effort but lacking in important cultural content. Discrepancies between objectives and classroom reality are discussed. (MSE)

The politicalization of curricular innovation in a state public school district charged with the implementation of Arizona's proposed State Board Rule of 1989 for introducing elementary foreign language in grades 1-8 is discussed. The district's use of existing resources, pilot year feedback, staff development program, and external partnerships is…

This digest provides useful information on starting an elementary school foreign language (FLES) program. Individual sections address the following: (1) cautions in planning a FLES program; (2) initiating the planning process; (3) designing the program, with special attention given to scheduling and language choice; (4) programs that lead to high…

A discussion of FLES (foreign language in the elementary school, including introductory, exploratory, or immersion) looks at the challenges that need to be identified and met for successful planning and implementation. The role and importance of FLES in the 1990s is briefly reviewed, FLES program types are outlined, and FLES is examined in greater…

ELEVEN THIRD-GRADE CLASSES IN SCHENECTADY, N.Y., WATCHED A 15-MINUTE TELEVISION PROGRAM IN ELEMENTARY FRENCH TWICE A WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. TO ANALYZE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DIFFERENT TEACHERS PROVIDING THE FOLLOW-UP INSTRUCTION OF THE TV PROGRAMS, FOUR GROUPS OF STUDENTS WERE ASSIGNED TO TEACHERS RANGING FROM NATIVE FRENCH WITH CONSIDERABLE…