Compares Organizing Principle, multi-syllabus, and modular approaches to second language course design and suggests a modular course design that offers the greatest flexibility for both the instructor and for future course planning by allowing the instructor to link various elements of this approach according to methodology and student needs.…

There are cognitive, social, personal, and practical reasons for studying a second language, and the syllabus is shaped by these and the identity of the learners, general and specific course objectives, educational principles, course components, learner input, and student evaluation procedures. A dynamic syllabus addresses four language competence…

Discusses the lack of applications of simulations to the study of English for academic purposes. Advocates a "looser" syllabus design which combines knowledge about learning objectives, organization of material, and methodology yet allows for students' needs and ways of learning. (SED)

Some aspects of planning second language programs along communicative lines are examined, and a framework for planning communicative classroom activities is described. The problem of determining whether to start planning with methodology and materials or overall curriculum design is discussed at length. A practical solution, a teacher's handbook…

A detailed curriculum outline for the state-mandated elementary school program in French as a second language for Quebec English schools is presented. Primary objectives are the development of affective values, social values, and the sense of sociocultural belonging. The curriculum was adapted from the 1972 curriculum, with more specific overall…

The Flexible Business Language Curriculum is a curriculum model designed for customization of foreign language instruction for businesses and commercial organizations. It uses traditional language content areas (grammar and functions) but in contexts less familiar to language teachers. The model is based on the communicative approach, with…

A collection of six essays focuses on second language instruction for adult learners. In "Modern Languages and the Adult Student" (David Smith), the motivations of adults taking evening classes are examined and the ways in which language teachers need to adjust to this population are discussed. "Language Learning Theories and Their Implications…

Many teachers feel that the primary goal of language education is the development of communicative rather than linguistic competence. This shift in focus has affected syllabus design. However, no single syllabus appears satisfactory by itself. The grammatical syllabus is effective to instill in learners automatic production of accurate structural…

This discussion of second language instruction through subject-area content reviews trends and literature in the field. Content-based language instruction is defined and distinguished from other forms of language instruction. Three major types of college-level content-based language instruction are described: sheltered instruction, taught by a…

This packet of materials describes and documents an integrated curriculum of Spanish second language and art instruction offered to freshmen at St. Charles High School (Illinois). The model is the first step in development of other interdisciplinary programs in the school district. The course is designed to improve students' international…

The curriculum guide outline (CGO) developed for the Richland School District One (Columbia, South Carolina) represents a structured effort to coordinate the curriculum across disciplines. The CGO is an outline that guides the total curriculum content of a course and states the level of mastery acceptable for course credit. It has five components…

Despite the diversity in syllabus design and teaching methodologies for English as a second language, and for second language instruction in general, communicative proficiency is the underlying common goal. Some of the most influential ideas supporting this trend come from the fields of sociolinguistics, second language acquisition, and second…

This article discusses the development of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) curricula that are consistent across course levels. The article argues that to maintain consistency, teachers must cooperate to form an ongoing, systematic development of subskill-based course guidelines in the skill areas of speaking, listening, reading, writing, and…

In a discussion of language teacher education, specifically that of native English-speakers to teach English as a Second Language, it is argued that a balance must be found between process-oriented and product-oriented training. It is suggested that this sector of language teacher education has been heavily conditioned to a product-centered…

The process of organizing content for a course in academic English as a Second Language is discussed, specifically as it applied to construction of a course for first-year law students at the University of Hong Kong. Discussion focuses on issues that emerged while trying to reconcile the university English center's curriculum policy with student…