Examines the strengths and weaknesses of various English language acquisition programs that are used to speed refugees' transition into Canadian society. The study focuses specifically on those refugees who qualify for federal government settlement assistance and reside in St. John's, Newfoundland. (eight references) (GLR)

Decries the emphasis in foreign language curricula on rapid attainment of speaking skills. Advocates eliminating formal speaking exercises and focusing on reading and writing skills, with intensive English grammar review at regular intervals, for the first two years of foreign language training. (SR)

A month-long experiment simulated a piece of genuine academic research for a multinational group of English as a second language students in a study skills course in England. A description of the experiment includes students' day-to-day progress, a brief evaluation of the program, and changes required in teacher-learner roles and in learner…

Offers some insights for college language department chairs regarding effective teaching strategies. The Maturiry and Leadership Scales of Hersey, Blanchard, and Hambleton teach faculty to use management skills at four levels (tell, sell, participate, and delegate) according to students' maturity levels. (CB)

Examines second-language vocabulary knowledge and acquisition by reviewing research on levels of lexical proficiency and on qualitative differences in the oral and written communication of French immersion students as compared to that of their francophone peers. Argues for improved vocabulary instruction in immersion programs. (MDM)

Discusses the creation of a positive classroom climate, examines four dimensions of classroom climate (physical, academic, organizational, and social-emotional), and reviews techniques that teachers can use to promote a positive classroom climate. Teachers need to get to know their students, discuss the course objectives with their students, and…

A member of the Toronto Board of Education argues that exposure to international languages in elementary school constitutes an important part of a forward-looking, up-to-date educational system. Maintains that the learning of a second or third language has positive social and economic benefits. (MDM)

Discusses the use of Language Medium Teaching (LMT) in an experimental project at Craigroyston High School in Edinburgh, Scotland. Students in the LMT immersion program are taught geography in French. Also discussed are the use of LMT in the Scottish Primary Pilot program at Balerno High School and its feeder primary schools. (MDM)

Discusses a five-point plan for assessing and rewarding college and university language faculty, covering the use of student assessments; videotaped classes for evaluation and for future job seeking; informal faculty sessions for discussing teaching methods; and required submission and evaluation of course outlines and reading lists. (CB)

Explores the comparative importance of scholarly research and effective teaching among college and university language faculty in gaining tenure and promotions, suggesting that there be more tangible recognition given to faculty whose language instruction serves to attract and retain students in foreign language study. (four references) (CB)

Provides study results of the attitudes of first and second year foreign language students enrolled at historically Black colleges and universities toward foreign language study, and makes recommendations for improving the status of foreign language education at these institutions. (13 references) (GLR)

Discussion of the role of literature in the college second-language program, and in liberal arts education in general, argues that it is an ethical obligation to teach literary competence, or literary sensitivity, in the language of the author, because the "great books" are those that combine stylistic refinement with deep insight into the human…

This article describes the evolution of distance learning in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction from the 1970s to the present, focusing on the "guided didactic conversation" model of Holmberg (1983, 1986), examples of distance learning ESL programs, and a new model of distance learning based on computers and electronic communication.…

Explores the second-language learning process from the point of view of what early childhood educators need to know to understand and help young second-language-learners. Discusses types of programs for preschoolers whose home language is not English and the developmental sequence of second-language acquisition. Considers issues of supporting…

Shows how an English for academic purposes language curriculum emerges, how it develops, and how it continues to evolve and be redesigned. Uses the Center for English as a Second language (CESL) at the University of Arizona as a paradigm. (Author/VWL)