Reports on a study of errors made in dictation exercises (German as a foreign language, Hamburg University). Notes that aural misunderstandings lead to erroneous original interpretations which distort the message of the text. Calls for caution and further research on the use of dictation. (IFS/WGA)

Discusses using ungraded, uncorrected journals focusing on academic and class-related concerns as a nonthreatening way for students to practice writing English. Proposes that teachers should become participants in the writing processes by writing journals to the class. (EKN)

Proposes that writing instruction at the intermediate level of second language study should be kept to a minimum. Gives examples of the kinds of brief derivative exercises that are most beneficial. (EKN)

Discusses letter writing as a practical way to teach German composition. Describes the course content and gives samples of topics and exercises. (EKN)

Describes several activities designed as part of La Salle University's Writing across the Curriculum project to improve advanced Spanish composition skills. Activities involved both formal and informal writing assignments such as notetaking, job application letters, and thesis support essays. (CB)

Discusses the use of student journals in a second-semester university French class. Students write informally in their journals about topics that are of personal interest to them. The instructor then writes comments about the topic and also corrects the vocabulary, grammar, and idiomatic errors of each journal entry. (SED)

Seven sentence combining activities designed to be stimulating and effective for college-level Japanese students of English as a Second Language are described. It is also demonstrated that a wide range of subjects can provide viable and engaging topics for the activities. The exercises include the following: (1) combining sentences provided into a…

This composition textbook/workbook for beginning and low-intermediate English as a Second Language/English as a Foreign Language (ESL/EFL) students contains topics that are developed to help move students from structured "writing" activities to free "composing" activities. The activities are intended to help students become…

Discusses the advantages of a microcomputer program that provides exercises for writing practice at the elementary French level at Vanderbilt University. A "computerized workbook" was developed to provide further written practice and to accompany the textbook. The text and results of a questionnaire administered after the computer-based…

Examines the implications of the ACTFL Provisional Proficiency Guidelines for the writing curriculum. Argues that the functions identified in the guidelines should be practices in writing as well as in speech. Discusses error correction techniques and presents examples of writing assignments in Russian that elicit advanced-level functions. (SED)

Discusses an approach to teaching second language composition which emphasizes (1) careful analysis of model texts from a limited, but well-defined perspective and (2) the application of text manipulation techniques developed by the word processing industry to student compositions. (EKN)

Describes design for advanced writing exercises for ESL classes which provides more individualized instruction and acquaints students with English thought patterns which underly the organization of longer units of discourse. Methods isolate one organizational function at a time for intensive practice. (Author/BK)

In response to the plateau of achievement advanced English-as-a-Second-Language students often reach, where they see little need for improvement, an instructor developed a program to help these students apply and improve writing skills outside of the immediate academic context. (CB)

An examination of the effectiveness of the use of various computer-based communication tools (commercial computer conferences, bulletin boards, word processors, outline processors, and electronic dictionaries) in developing college students' Spanish proficiency suggested that computers offered potential for enhancing the writing process. (38…

Encouraging students of English as a foreign language (EFL) to write family oral histories is an excellent way to teach academic writing and spark student interest. Oral history is defined, steps in writing oral histories are outlined, advantages and disadvantages of having undergraduate EFL composition students draft them are examined, and…