The instructional programs educators design to help English Learner (EL) students work toward English proficiency look different in schools across the United States. This is due in part to the variety of approaches K-12 educators take to important questions such as: Should the program foster bilingualism or focus solely on English? Should ELs…

Commissioner's Rules Concerning the State Plan for Educating English Language Learners (ELLs) states that all school districts that are required to provide bilingual education and/or English as a second language (ESL) programs establish and operate a Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC). The LPACs are charged with reviewing all…

Students continually ask, "Does this count?" "Is this on the test?" They want to know how they'll be evaluated. Discover how to answer these questions in ways that shape student learning and keep teaching focused on what really matters. Written by language expert Paul Sandrock, this superb manual clarifies precisely what…

A conference of 15 experts in English as a second language (ESL) from Indochinese programs across the country arrived at a consensus regarding the characteristics of an effective ESL program. Prior to ESL instruction, student needs must be addressed, including basic living needs, orientation in the native language, and seeking the collaboration of…

Describes intensive German courses at North Texas State University and gives suggestions for publicity, screening, testing, transfer to traditional course sequence, providing special help, and maintaining a positive student attitude. Positive results strengthen belief that an effective intensive program corresponding to requirements and abilities…

Describes a computer-assisted instruction project used for students of German. Because the program has features built in which gives it versatility, it is beneficial to several levels of instruction in the language department and it also involves more than one faculty member in using the computer. (SL)

This digest provides useful information on starting an elementary school foreign language (FLES) program. Individual sections address the following: (1) cautions in planning a FLES program; (2) initiating the planning process; (3) designing the program, with special attention given to scheduling and language choice; (4) programs that lead to high…

The Teaching Assistant Program offers a course alternative designed to attract talented high school students to careers in education. This individually tailored course offers an expanded academic program to secondary students in several subject areas that have critical teacher shortages. It introduces them to the many facets of the teaching…

A strategy for expanding business foreign language course offerings at the college level is described. At one institution this involves adding a business component to some sections of three language courses: second-semester intermediate level; third-year composition; and contemporary culture and civilization seminar. Content is concentrated in…

Inservice education for teachers of English as a Second Language in India is discussed, focusing on the problem of teacher resistance to change in teaching practice. First, the need for inservice teacher education in the Indian context is examined, noting that standards of both student and teacher English language proficiency have been declining.…

The guide is one section of a resource kit designed to assist Peace Corps language instruction coordinators in countries around the world in understanding the principles underlying second language learning and teaching and in organizing instructional programs. An introductory chapter gives an overview of the guide, provides guidance to the…

The guide is one section of a resource kit designed to assist Peace Corps language instruction coordinators in countries around the world in understanding the principles underlying second language learning and teaching and in organizing instructional programs. This section outlines basic principles of second language learning and teaching. An…

A plan for teaching American culture in a summer intensive course in English as a Second Language, at the intermediate level and focusing on speaking and listening skills, is detailed. The approach used to design the cultural unit integrates two models for culture education and the experiential learning cycle. The report begins with an explanation…

This manual is designed to assist coordinators of an English-as-a-Second-Language discussion group program in program planning and administration. The program uses volunteers to conduct discussions on topics of interest to limited English speaking community members. The introductory section of the manual describes the program, outlines the…

This rationale for the German immersion program of the Milwaukee public schools (grades K-5) sets forth general and specific program goals as well as criteria for evaluating communicative competence. A list of sample exercises for specific communicative acts (e.g., telling, informing, requesting) is included. Topics for oral and written…