The collaborative curriculum development process in a postsecondary language education program in Japan is described, looking specifically at the work of five curriculum development teams, or focus groups: needs assessment; curriculum aims, goals, and objectives; cognitive development and learner strategies; materials development; and learner…

A study was undertaken to identify useful methods for measuring progress in English language proficiency among students at the Yemen-America Language Institute (YALI) in Sana'a, Yemen. The study examined factors critical to such progress as well as the profiles of student attitudes and demographic characteristics. A questionnaire was administered…

This document discusses the various problems students and teachers face in Asian language education programs at both the elementary secondary and university levels. Asian languages are much more difficult to learn than more commonly-taught languages like French or Spanish, and the available curriculum and testing materials are inadequate. There…

A handbook designed to acquaint college and university language departments with recent developments in oral proficiency testing gives an overview of the rationale, development, procedures, and implications of oral proficiency evaluation. The discussion is placed in the context of college and university language teaching. An overview section…

The current status of the teaching of oral and aural skills in university French language courses in Great Britain is examined. A review of survey results finds that French teaching at the university level remains much as it was 20 to 30 years ago despite increasing calls for change, and that more serious attempts at change are found in Scottish…

As a result of increasing interest in merging business and the humanities in the college curriculum and the efforts of many German and American organizations working together, a test was developed to measure the German language competence of American students planning to work for American companies trading with or located in West Germany or for…

The instructional manual for an individualized course in introductory college-level Polish presents the first five units and a review section. Each unit contains: (1) a student-instructor grading checklist; (2) a list of primary performance objectives of the unit; (3) student activity schedule integrating text readings, tape assignments, and…

The instructional manual for the third segment of an individualized course in college-level introductory Polish includes outlines for five learning modules (units 11-15 of the course) and a review. Each unit contains: (1) a student-instructor grading checklist; (2) a list of primary performance objectives of the unit; (3) student activity schedule…

The instructional manual for the fourth segment of an individualized course in college-level introductory Polish includes outlines for five learning modules (units 16-20 of the course) and a review. Each unit contains: (1) a student-instructor grading checklist; (2) a list of primary performance objectives of the unit; (3) student activity…

Book two, part one, of an intermediate-advanced level German refresher course for college students is presented. The volume consists of 42 lessons of text material and 42 prerecorded tapes. A typical unit is made up of spontaneous dialogues, substitution drills, and tests. A dialogue for listening is a short conversation between German speakers…

This cooperative research project, supported by the Office of Education Bureau of Research, attempts to answer questions on the effectiveness of reading instruction during a sixth grade beginning Spanish program. Major areas studied include: (1) the effects of reading instruction on listening, speaking, and reading skills, (2) the amounts of…

The final report on a Mercy College (New York) program of mathematics and vocational English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction for limited-English-proficient workers in a manufacturing company is presented. The report consists of documentary materials, and is organized according to the five chronological terms in which the program operated,…

This study was conducted to evaluate the tests developed by elementary foreign language teachers of French, Japanese, and Spanish in a school district in South Carolina. The tests were designed to determine the level of end-of-year student learning and to provide a basis for evaluating the curriculum of each of the three languages. The French and…

The Finnish Foreign Language Diploma for Professional Purposes, which tests English language skills, is described. The examination is intended for both individuals desiring certification of their knowledge and ability to use English in a professional context and for employers wanting independent evaluation for selection purposes. It measures…

Three articles discuss aspects of current foreign language instruction in Hungary. "Foreign Languages in Hungarian Schools Today" (Karoly Fulop) surveys the current status of second language instruction, the developments made since reforms were recommended in 1972 and 1979, and possible directions for further development. It looks first…