The problem of when to begin foreign language instruction is considered. Detailed criticism is made of the conclusions of "Primary French in the Balance." An early start may be favored because of the effect on children's minds, and teaching and school improvements may solve problems of transition to advanced stages. (CHK)

This article discusses the question of the optimal age for second language learning by providing some background and by comparing relevant British and Canadian language teaching programs. (CLK)

A British experiment in teaching French in primary schools was evaluated from 1964-1974 by the National Foundation for Educational Research. This paper describes the experiment and the students, their progress, and results of the study. (CHK)

This article questions the validity of many conclusions of the ten-year experiment with teaching French in primary schools in England and Wales in the report, "Primary French in the Balance." Some conclusions are based on restricted opinion conflicting with report data. Parallels are drawn with the "Pennsylvania Project." (CHK)

Research is presented in support of the theory that early French immersion of English-speaking children leads to bilingualism. The evidence is limited to children through the end of grade four. Comments and criticisms are made by three guest analysts. (RM)

A comparison was made of an early French immersion program and an English language elementary program. Major trends resulting from the comparison are summarized. Comments and criticisms are made by three guest analysts. (RM)

A research colloquium was held by the Ontario Ministry of Education in April 1976 on the subject of alternative programs for teaching French as a second language. A summary is given of discussion during which the audience was invited to question a panel of researchers, guest analysts and school officials. (RM)

This report presents an evaluation of the Louisiana state-wide program of French instruction at the primary level for the academic year 1972-73. The aims of the program were to show that second language learning is feasible and beneficial, can fit within the educational priorities of the Louisiana school system, and is valuable for both anglophone…

THE AMBIGUITY AND AMBIVALENCE THAT CHARACTERIZE ALL DISCUSSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS PERTAINING TO LANGUAGE TEACHING METHODOLOGY ARE DERIVED FROM THE "DOUBLE NATURE" OF THE SUBJECT. TO COMPLICATE THE SITUATION FURTHER, THERE IS NO CERTAINTY THAT EITHER THE "CONDITIONED" OR "CONCEPTUAL" MODES OF LANGUAGE LEARNING REALLY COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER. THE…

The teaching of foreign languages in the elementary school (FLES) as an integral part of the elementary curriculum has met with varied success in the U.S., despite increasing evidence that young children are capable of learning to speak a foreign language with less effort and more success than any other age group. The earliest FLES programs date…

This article discusses a study undertaken by the British Ministry of Education to determine the effect of offering French to a much wider age and ability range at the elementary level than had been the case in the past. The study is based on the Nuffield project, a pilot project in French instruction carried out in selected primary schools in…

A NEED FOR A STATEMENT OF SIMPLIFIED CRITERIA BY WHICH SECONDARY SCHOOLS MAY MEASURE THE EXCELLENCE OF THEIR FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAMS HAS STIMULATED THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE GUIDELINES, DESIGNED TO ASSIST IN SETTING UP THE BEST POSSIBLE AUDIOLINGUALLY-ORIENTED CURRICULUM TO MEET THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF SCHOOLS. FOLLOWING AN OUTLINE OF BASIC…

A project was begun in 1973 in the Indianapolis Public School system based on the hypothesis that English language skills and the control of syntactic structures can be measurably improved through participation in a specially designed Latin FLES program stressing the importance of Latin root words. Goals of the project were to assess whether or…

The purpose of this study was to develop a third-year elementary French curriculum which integrated the oral-aural-visual and individualized approaches to language learning. The curriculum was based on a language arts approach which incorporated listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. It was designed for use: (1) with students of average…

This article examines the linguistic benefits of Latin in light of recent research which seems to document the relevance of Latin in building English vocabulary and reading skills. Evidence is cited from eight educational projects in which an experimental group of students taking Latin, and a control group not taking Latin, were pretested,…