This guide contains daily lesson plans for a 4-week, 4-hour a day immersion program for an introductory German-as-a-foreign-language program. The program uses repetition, gestures, realia, puppets, and comprehension-based activities such as Total Physical Response; it also uses illustrations designed to promote the goals of comprehension,…

The proportion of active foreign language teachers working in cooperative or collaborative efforts is very small. Foreign languages have lagged behind other disciplines in this area. Consortia, or groups of postsecondary institutions agreeing to work together toward specific, long-range goals, date back to medieval times, but few have emerged over…

Gifted students share a number of common characteristics, including verbal proficiency, awareness and power of observation, curiosity and inquisitiveness, independence, friendliness, lack of discipline, competitiveness, self-criticism and criticism of others, opinionatedness, and dislike for routine and drill. These characteristics present a…

A discussion of Krashen's monitor theory and its applications to foreign language teaching includes consideration of the very important role input plays in language development and examination of the relationship between the development of grammatical competence and traditional instruction in grammar. (CB)

Surveys of language program directors and recommendations and trends noted by several large universities indicate that a professional model of language program direction is emerging, in which the language program director (the supervisor for graduate teaching assistants) is seen as a viable faculty member contributing to a legitimate scholarly…

The Language Immersion Program at the State University College of New York at New Paltz provides a highly effective and exciting learning environment for intensive study of a foreign language. Participants progress rapidly and gain greater confidence and enthusiasm as they develop fluency. (CB)

Describes an experience using the Silent Way in an elementary and intermediate sequence of college-level Spanish courses, outside of the laboratory setting. Information is drawn from student commentary, instructor and research assistant observation, and student test results. (MSE)

Examines the difficulties students face in making the transition from skills acquisition courses to the study of literature in college foreign language programs. Proposes the creation of a series of courses that emphasize the development of both communicative skills and the analytical tools needed for the study of literature. (SED)

Discusses the Bangalore Project in South India and responds to three articles on it, particularly the one by C. J. Brumfit (ELT, 1984). Argues that more information on teacher and learner performance and more explicit and illustrative evidence of materials and methodology are needed in order to evaluate the project accurately. (SED)

Describes the program and discusses the success of intensive second language instruction, based on the Dartmouth Method, at a public, urban, nonresidential college. (EKN)

Discusses goals of teaching French as a foreign language as set forth in the "Recommended Statement of 16+ National Criteria for French" and compares them to the goals of Ontario's bilingual immersion program. Discusses the feasibility of accomplishing these goals within the framework of the compulsory education system in Great Britain.…

This essay by the president of the National Council on Foreign Language and International Studies cites figures revealing Americans' ignorance of foreign languages and basic facts concerning the rest of the world. A plan of action is outlined for schools. (MJL)

Describes the 16-week intensive French and Spanish program at Cabrillo College. (EKN)

Discusses, in general terms and in light of the experience of the past four years at SUNY-Buffalo, the advantages and disadvantages of teaching beginning level foreign language three days per week instead of five. (EKN)

Describes how the outdated language lab at Houston Baptist University was renovated and updated. Discusses the university's language internship program which grew out of the renovation. (EKN)