THE LACK OF UNIFORMITY IN TEACHING PRACTICES, COURSE CONTENT, MATERIALS, AND TEACHER PREPARATION HAS HAMPERED ACHIEVEMENT IN FLES PROGRAMS AND PRODUCED MANY UNSTABLE PROGRAMS. THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR OBJECTIVES TO BE CLEARLY DEFINED AND CRITERIA TO BE DEVELOPED FOR JUDGING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SERIOUS FLES PROGRAMS. WITH PROPERLY SEQUENCED…

THIS COMMENTARY ON AN EARLIER ARTICLE ABOUT THE DISCONTINUATION OF A 6-YEAR FLES PILOT PROGRAM (SEE "MODERN LANGUAGE JOURNAL," VOLUME 50, MARCH 1966) CRITICIZES THE LACK OF CLEARLY DEFINED GOALS OR EXPECTATION OF SUCCESS WHICH CHARACTERIZED THE PROJECT. THE PLANNERS MADE NO ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES IN THE SCHOOL TO ACCOMMODATE THE PROGRAM AND FAILED…

SUGGESTIONS FOR ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A FLES PROGRAM (FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS) ARE GIVEN. THE GUIDE EXAMINES THE CONSIDERATIONS AND PRINCIPLES THAT ARE IMPORTANT IN PLANNING THE PROGRAM, AND DISCUSSES OBJECTIVES, BASIC ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT LANGUAGE LEARNING, RESEARCH IN FLES, AND THE ROLE OF THE FLES TEACHER. INCLUDED ARE…

The guide is designed to help elementary school administrators and school communities in making decisions about FLES (foreign language in the elementary school) program design and implementation. An introductory chapter provides definitions of relevant program types (FLES, exploratory/FLEX, and immersion). The second chapter reviews the current…

Through a review of recent studies on the subject, it becomes clear that the focus of innovation in language teaching has been largely concerned with technological change rather than adoption of new pedagogical procedures. Furthermore, the assumptions behind innovation efforts need to be challenged to determine whose interests are being served.…

To provide a more permanent foundation for foreign language education in general and for extracurricular FLES programs in particular, a project was funded by the Iowa Humanities Board and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Its overall goals were to ensure positive foreign language learning experiences for elementary and secondary school…

An introduction provides a brief history of foreign language study in the primary school in various countries and a brief examination of the different attitudes toward early foreign language study. The body of the article presents a case for foreign language study in the primary school on the grounds of sociopolitical developments, trends in…

Recommendations that can be instituted immediately to improve articulation of foreign language programs are outlined in this article. The suggestions cover such topics as uniform curriculum for elementary and for secondary schools, student placement in college according to language proficiency, better communication between teachers and…

This teacher's handbook outlines a successful program for the teaching of Latin in the elementary school. The text is divided into four sections: the first describes a typical class session, enumerates linguistic and humanistic goals and methodology, and delineates the first-year curriculum; the second evaluates the program's effectiveness; the…

Information and recommendations concerning foreign language in the elementary school (FLES) center about a set of criteria for examining proposals and programs made in 1954. Included among the criteria are the importance of goals and their cooperative development, provision for the mental health of teachers and children, sound teaching-learning…

This report on the 1968-69 FLES programs of the Seattle and Highline, Washington, school districts, was prepared by the Washington Foreign Language Program. The program evaluations, a joint effort of the project director and three public school and university teachers, focus on the form and substance of the existing FLES programs. Questionnaires…

The partial immersion program at Key Elementary School (Arlington, Virginia), where half the day is taught in English and half in Spanish, continued to be successful in its eighth year. Reasons for success include: dedication and in-depth understanding of immersion philosophy among principal, coordinator, teachers, and staff; innovations in both…

The partial immersion program at Key Elementary School (Arlington, Virginia), where half the day is taught in English and half in Spanish, continued to be successful in its ninth year. Reasons for success include: dedication and in-depth understanding of immersion philosophy among principal, coordinator, teachers, and staff; innovations in both…

This handbook is designed for educators, administrators, and others who are interested in developing Latin programs in elementary and secondary schools. It is divided into four parts. Part One, "How Beginning Latin Actually Works," discusses a typical beginning Latin class session, linguistic and humanistic program goals, the methodology…