New educational curricula are regularly put into practice worldwide; and the issues related to curriculum design are frequently discussed from a pedagogical perspective. However, the processes involved in preparing a statewide English as a foreign language (EFL) curriculum are rarely elaborated from an inside view. As the experiences of program…

Belgium's German-speaking community feels the need for multilingualism more than most. Since 1990, French language instruction has been seriously promoted in elementary school, as much for teachers as for students. A six-year curriculum plan takes students from early exposure to creative and autonomous language use. A pilot program is under way.…

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)

Attitudes expressed by language experts, policymakers, and educators at a conference on the implementation of a nationwide elementary school foreign language program in Italy are summarized. Issues discussed include teacher education needs, curriculum content and design, and articulation with other levels of education. (MSE)

A shift in instructional focus to student needs and interests spurred the development of a different approach to French second language program design in Alberta. A practical curriculum planning model is offered that is based on: (1) communicative and student-centered activities; (2) responsiveness to teacher needs; and (3) supporting planning for…

A 4-day inservice teacher workshop, held so that teachers from a number of countries could share ideas and experiences about foreign language teaching at the elementary school level, is described. Speeches and events of each day are summarized briefly, and plenary sessions are chronicled in somewhat more detail. The latter include: a description…

This curriculum is designed to introduce Chinese language and culture in the elementary grades, and consists of a teacher's manual and student activity book. The teacher's guide consists of an introductory section, which outlines the rationale, objectives, suggested teaching techniques and materials, and language and culture content of the…

Selected papers from the conference address four priorities in second language teaching: teacher education; instruction; curriculum; and testing. Papers include: "Listening Processes and Authentic Texts" (Donna Reseigh Long); "Directory of Foreign Language Teacher Preparation Programs in the United States: A Preliminary Report"…

The curriculum is designed to introduce Korean language and culture in grades 4 and 5, and consists of a teacher's manual and student activity book. The teacher's manual contains: an introductory section describing the curriculum's content and objectives, making suggestions for classroom interaction and discussions, and listing needed…