Discusses statistical indication of decrease in students studying a second foreign language. Responses to a questionnaire sent out in 1973 to German teachers in the county of Yorkshire in an attempt to discover reasons for these statistics are analyzed and discussed. (RM)

Language laboratories are especially neglected at the intermediate and advanced levels of foreign language learning. Teachers fail to avail themselves of an important teaching tool at a critical point, when the more mechanical aspects of assimilating the target language should give way to gaining an actual communicative competence in it. At the…

A study of errors in papers written by upper-level (Grades 11-13) students of English, notably in the use of participles, inversion, modal auxiliary verbs, pointed to deficiencies in upper-level teaching texts, insufficient exposure, and goals that are too high. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Reports on a study of the use of English by students and graduates of German Hauptschulen ("terminal" junior high schools). Examines FL requirements for various occupations. Finds that good students make the most use of their English, but mostly in their personal lives. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

This book is concerned with language as it is used by the teacher, as it affects the learner, and as it can function to integrate the curriculum. Douglas Barnes, in "Language in the Secondary Classroom," discusses the student-teacher language interaction in 12 sample lessons, and analyzes the importance upon student learning of the languages used…

This course involves an approach to language study dealing with the psychology, the process of abstraction, and the levels of the meaning of language. The objectives of the course include demonstrating an understanding of: (1) the origin and nature of language, (2) the process by which language changes and develops, (3) the abstract nature of the…

Presents the notions that: (1) training in free expression skills in a foreign language can be systematized and integrated with the acquisition of fundamental language skills; and (2) that the principle of "re-expression" can be used by the teacher to yield "free expression" in the form of spontaneous oral summary. (AM)

Following introduction of a reform program by the Ministry of Culture in the FRG, French has slumped in the upper level gymnasium curriculum. Reasons for this are discussed, including students' opinions. Suggests less rigid requirements and more generous grading policies. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Enrollment trends in Italian courses at the college and secondary level are presented. The largest Italian department is at Rutgers College in New Brunswick. The history of this program is presented. (SW)

A discussion of factors operative in foreign language learning. The most important is a good grasp of the native language both through acquired learning and the seemingly innate ability to structure sentences in the native language. The question of early foreign language learning is addressed. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

The perennial problem of articulation of foreign language programs between the high schools and the colleges is readdressed in this paper. Six factors are identified as primary in contributing to the problem: (1) instruction is paced too fast, thus encouraging superficial learning and creating a disparity of coverage practices among the many…

This report presents the conclusions and recommendations of a residential colloquium concerning modern languages for the 1980's, attended by 70 representatives of various sectors and levels of the educational system. The colloquium was a response to widespread concern about the crisis in language learning in the United Kingdom. The colloquium…

A discussion of Chinese instruction in a Bordeaux lycee. Specific questions addressed are: enrollment; reasons for studying Chinese; the study of the written and spoken language; the need for an appropriate textbook; teaching culture; and the need to organize Chinese as a regular course in the curriculum. (AMH)

The report describes an analysis of errors yielded by a written test in English given to 424 Swedish 14-year-olds from 24 different classes in the comprehensive school. The analysis discusses the difference in attainment between pupils of high and low proficiency, frequencies and types of errors for regular and irregular verbs, and the occurrence…

German "reformed curriculum" schools have, in upper level honors courses, only 2.2 percent of students taking foreign languages. French enrollment especially is low. In English, the learning time of all future graduates is being shortened. An annual class of 160 is needed to offer adequate courses. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)