Spanish culture units developed by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese are described in this article. The design of modular culture units, intended to permit greater individualization of instruction, is discussed and illustrated with frequent reference to specific examples. Suggestions on how teachers can begin to…

This compilation of articles on the individualization of foreign language learning examines the teacher's role as the "facilitator of learning" in a student centered curriculum, the nature and direction of present trends in individualized instruction determined at the Stanford Conference on Individualization of Instruction in Foreign Language…

A representative six-year foreign language curriculum (grades 7-12) is analyzed and noted to be based on several underlying principles. Difficulties which arise from rigid adherence to certain methodological principles are discussed, particularly those concerning the relationship between audiolingual and writing skills. Suggestions on ways to…

Negative influences on teaching practices and objectives in modern language programs, caused by certain final examination practices in Sweden, are pointed out and criticized in this paper. The needs of the Swedish student of languages are determined to be related to the use of language primarily as a means of everyday communication. The…

This paper suggests a new direction and scope for instruction in existing language programs. The author proposes that language courses become "acculturation" courses which would have as their central educational objective the acculturation of the student into the target culture through language, civilization, and culture study. Learning style is…

This report by a former President of the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and Director of Foreign Languages Instruction in New York City Schools, concerns itself with five major areas. They include: (1) foreign language teacher and administrator relations, (2) a proposal for regional support teams, (3) the development of…

The role and training of an educational consultant who is to become an "agent for innovation" is the subject of this report. He is seen largely as guiding and evaluating externally generated innovations in language programs and aiding the generation of innovation from within the school in the same subject area. Emphasis on design and articulation…

An examination of changing student attitudes and behavior and current foreign language programs leads the author to propose strategies for developing new attitudes toward teaching, curriculum planning, and second language learning. Noting the characteristic unrest of today's youth and the bases for it, a plea is made for teachers and…

A teaching handbook accompanying North Carolina's revised competency-based curriculum for second language instruction in elementary and secondary schools is presented. An introductory section outlines the philosophy and rationale behind the curriculum and its revision, discusses the role of thinking skills in learning, briefly describes programs…