In 2008, the Faculty of Arts at The University of Melbourne embarked upon a major overhaul of curriculum in nine languages: Arabic, Chinese, Indonesian and Japanese in the Asia Institute; and French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish in the School of Languages and Linguistics. This article details the changes to the beginners' Italian…

This longitudinal qualitative study investigates how cultural experiences of staying in Japan may affect attitudes and self-directed learning of kanji among learners of Japanese as a foreign language. Six beginner learners pursued semester-long weekly kanji learning sessions and their diachronic behaviours were observed and recorded for attitudes…

Discusses the role of grammar in foreign language learning and instruction at the beginning level in a university setting. Highlights grammar teaching in a basic French course at an Australian university, and relates what students in the course have learned about grammar. (Author/VWL)

In 2004, in response to the need to revise oral practice and assessment in the second semester of Beginners French at Monash University, an eight-week group-based theatre project was developed and trialled. A specially adapted version of Tardieu's absurdist play "Le Guichet" was used to give students the opportunity to focus on oral…

Describes a beginners' French Web site that aims to expose learners to the authentic French of native speakers and to the French produced by tutors and learners within the Web site itself. Provides information for incorporating Web-based instruction. (Author/VWL)