This article presents an approach to literary texts that develops students' language proficiency, content knowledge, and analytical skills through the interweaving of three content areas--literary analysis, stylistics, and culture--at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels of the foreign language curriculum. Consistent with…

Suggests the use of foreign films as a teaching aid for foreign language study. However, a thorough knowledge of the film's oral language (or languages) and culture is essential as a first step toward a clear understanding of the film's visual aesthetic. A dependence on subtitles or dubbing is discouraged, due to frequent errors and…

This article begins with an overview of the literature that establishes the value of sayings in foreign language teaching. It is argued that authors of textbooks should use sayings because they make up such an important part of a language. The most common sayings that should be found in any textbook are listed. (LET)

Although American Sign Language (ASL) has a long and rich history in America and scholarly research on ASL is in its third decade, ASL has been slow to garner any degree of status in the academic community, although some higher education institutions are beginning to consider ASL for their foreign-language curriculum. (CB)

Describes the long process through which American Sign Language (ASL) was accepted in fulfillment of the foreign-language requirement at the University of New Mexico. It was discovered the mutual discovery and sharing of facts about ASL in the long deliberations proved effective. (CB)

Reports on the results of two surveys of college-level instruction in Russian, conducted in 1980 and 1983, designed to measure to what degree phonetics is included as an integral part of the program. The majority of the schools in both surveys indicated a casual attitude towards teaching pronunciation and an overall downward trend in the role of…

Laments the minimal role played by university language departments in the evolution of the study of language and language instruction that has occurred during the past decades. Briefly analyzes this anomaly and outlines some current international trends which stress a need for considerable changes in the role performed by the universities.…

Describes a televised German language course designed for older students with little or no foreign language study. In addition, the program has also been open to high school and college students. A comparison of the proficiency achievement of these groups shows that students enrolled in the two-semester telecourse did not attain the proficiency…

Reviews various aspects of the undergraduate foreign language curriculum over the past decade and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of that curriculum. Outlines the best and worst scenarios which could occur during the next 10 years and suggests means which can assure that undergraduate foreign language education will meet future needs. (EKN)

Discusses the relationship between language and culture and the value of the study of foreign language as culture in a liberal education curriculum. Describes an approach to language teaching which focuses on the contrasts between the native and the foreign language in order to improve students' understanding of cultural differences. (MES)

A review of stages in the evolution of the language laboratory shows that its function has changed in the past 20 years. Originally it was described as a way of providing a means for abundant practice of audiolingual drills. Currently, it is described as a learning center with multiple resources and functions. It might be characterized as a…

Describes strategy for teaching culture and conversation at the third- and fourth-year undergraduate level using authentic documents as the primary materials. The medium chosen for this course was the French chanson, but similar strategies may be applicable to any modern language using the culturally appropriate materials. (eight references) (LET)

Supports the addition of translation courses into the average college curriculum as a means of equipping foreign language students with the training, background, and tools they require to stay competitive as society, business, and the economy demand. Stresses the ability to translate a variety of types of work, such as nonfiction, scientific,…

Discusses the relevance of teaching "Survival Spanish" at the community college level for those students whose careers will require an understanding of the language. In addition, many professionals in the human/community service or medical fields are enrolling in such courses, in order to more competently serve the changing needs of…

"Re-tell" is examined as an activity designed to involve students in an interactive process. Authentic reading and listening passages provide a context in which the student can negotiate for meaning and extract information from the surrounding environment (the real world), thus fostering language acquisition via exposure to various learning…