Urges the use of plays as a means of practicing English; however, the play should be chosen to suit the players. (LG)

A discussion of the use of comedy as a television program format for teaching English as a second language. (HB)

Gives hints on developing the pupil's ability in conversation involving initiative: asking questions and counter-questions, contradiction, wishes, demands, etc. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Advocates the study of poetry in FL classes and suggests methods by which students could be tested on poetry. (KM)

This paper discusses how an understanding of speech acts contributes to the communicative competence in foreign language learning. Reviewing John Searle's five categories of speech acts (1976), the directive is discussed in terms of its manifestations in various foreign languages. Examples of directives in English, German, French, and Spanish are…

Abstracts of 51 papers presented at a conference on foreign language teaching are included. Each abstract is one to two pages in length. Specific teaching methods as well as general pedagogical ideas are treated. Several papers deal with specific languages, including Latin, French, German, Spanish, and Slovak. Instruction in a specific language…

In the 1960's, two medical doctors, Georgi Lozanov and Alfonso Caycedo, discovered independently that certain yogic techniques of physical and mental relaxation could be used to produce not only analgesia but also improved memory and concentration. Systems originally used in medicine and psycho-therapy were applied to education, in particular to…

The following papers on essential issues in foreign language instruction are included: (1) "Futurism, Basic Education, and the Foreign Language Curriculum," by Frank M. Grittner; (2) "The Foreign Language Teacher as 'Con Artist,'" by Jean S. Hughes; (3) "Motivational Factors and Student Retention in School Foreign Language Programs," by Pamela J.…

The suggestive-accelerative approach to foreign language instruction is described. This method, first used in Bulgaria by Georgi Lozanov, emphasizes bringing the imagination to bear on the learning task, in a relaxed classroom environment. After establishing a calm atmosphere through direct and indirect suggestion, the teacher proceeds to…

The suggestopedic technique of second language instruction is sketched. Recent efforts to adopt the technique in parts of the American West are reviewed. The historical precedent of suggestopedia and the interpretation of the technique by two linguists at the 1979 TESOL convention are investigated. Hypnosis is compared to suggestopedia, and…

A thorough investiqation is attempted of efforts to apply hypnosis and suggestive learning techniques to education in general and specifically to second language learning. Hypnosis is discussed in terms of its dangers, its definition, and its application. Included in this discussion is a comparison of auto- and hetero-hypnosis, an overview of the…

The need for a contrastive approach in foreign language teaching has long been recognized, but in the construction of textbook materials and in classroom practice it has rarely been realized. For pedagogical purposes a useful distinction can be drawn between difference and contrast. Differences can be taught as new items of knowledge, whereas…

TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) students are usually people who are in the process of assimilating a new language and culture and therefore require more than a superficial knowledge of the language. Adults learning English as a second language might be taught by a language experience approach. Building upon the learners' experiences…