Over the past decade, there has been an increasing emphasis on English for Specific Purposes (ESP) within China's higher education language programs. However, the shift towards ESP presents a multifaceted challenge, particularly for business English teaching at higher education, where speaking proficiency is crucial yet often falls below…

Communities of practice have taken a firm foothold in the second language teaching profession due to their promise of enabling participants to self determine their professional development needs and, through peer mentoring, achieve their goals. This article provides a rationale as to why the model is particularly well suited to teacher…

This article examines the relationship between European language policy and funded language learning projects in the field of LSP. We look at why and how the objectives were expressed, how the overall directions have evolved over the past decade, and how the LSP landscape has been redefined through research and implementation. Our discursive and…

Courses in Portuguese for Speakers of Other Languages, in particular for adult immigrants, have been steadily expanding in Portugal over the last 15 years. These programmes aim to promote educational and labour market integration, access to Portuguese nationality, and cognitive development. This paper argues that official Portuguese learning…

The recent reform act for the Italian upper secondary school has ruled the gradual introduction, from the 2012-2013 school year onwards, of the CLIL (content and language integrated learning) methodology in the "Licei" and technical schools. While CLIL clearly offers students great opportunities for developing their skills and abilities…

In this paper, the author reviews the history of English language teaching English as a second or foreign language in schools and colleges in Nepal. Teaching English language and literature in Nepal is of about a half a decade, starting from the mid of twentieth century. English learners in Nepal do not have enough exposure to various techniques…

This paper portrays the activity system of eight classes of Grade 6 children with special educational needs in an Intensive French as a second-language education program. Classroom norms and tools reflected a social-interactionist and social-constructivist approach with scaffolding, social interaction, multiple modes of representing, holistic,…

Discusses some common misconceptions about foreign language learning and the foreign language teaching profession. Lists some basic needs for the profession if language education is to continue to be developed and promoted. (EKN)

Incorporation of women's and feminist issues into foreign language programs has been limited mostly to literature, and not language, courses. Reconsideration of this traditional boundary must seek a greater balance in including women's issues in both foreign language literature and foreign language teaching and examination. (CB)

Describes the Consortium for Language Teaching and Learning, which is made up of 11 major private research universities. This group seeks an active forum for discussion and cost-effective solutions to major problems in foreign language education. (CB)

While Australian policy supports cultural diversity and promotes language instruction, public attitudes and the resources available for language education are not favorable. The lack of progress may be attributed in part to the nature of decision-making processes, resulting in unbalanced and ill-conceived policy. National language policy-making…

Stresses need for support of international studies and foreign language programs throughout the U.S. educational system. Reports status of foreign language instruction on National Association of Independent Schools campuses. Discusses primary goals of secondary level foreign language teaching. (JD)

Cross-cultural competence is a recent movement with important implications for foreign language teaching, schools of business and economics, and firms engaged in either international or national commerce. Until now, it has not been adequately addressed. Higher education must investigate strategies for more effective integration of culture into the…

The administrative and pedagogical difficulties of implementing a communicative approach in a university French program are outlined, including student language needs and expectations, program organization and content, and implementing appropriate situations and practices. The question of whether a student can attain bilingualism at this level…

Results of a 1982-1983 survey of the Thai business community concerning its needs for English language skills and of a survey of the course offerings at Thai colleges and universities are reported and discussed. The industry survey targeted 60 of the 600 largest Thai companies in manufacturing, trading, finance, hotels and health care. The…