Examined the Instructional Conversation (IC) as a socioculturally based professional development tool and how it encouraged knowledge construction as it was assisted through dynamic participation among mainstream and bilingual teachers of English language learners. Found that the IC could be instrumental in training teachers about theoretical…

Discusses two Internet activities called Postcards and Talking Heads that can be used by second and foreign language teachers in the classroom. Theoretical justification for using Internet technology is provided, and learning outcomes of Internet activities are discussed. (Author/VWL)

Discusses literature circles (LC), and describes a variety of LC techniques for helping teachers coordinate classrooms to include linguistically and culturally diverse students. Provides a description of differentiated instruction and Flippo's (1998) best reading instruction practices, relates typical LC methods, and focuses on how LC can be…

Examines the debate over the text or media that best enable second-year learners of German to increase their active vocabulary. Suggests the novel "Der Richter und sein Henker" can be enriched by the film adaptation. Classroom tested activities incorporate care fully-sequenced visuals and culminate in analysis of both the book and the film. Sample…

Reports a survey of students in eight colleges that their opinions were sought on the teaching methods and learning styles most suited to the learning of Japanese in their own setting. Results show that students favor a mixture of traditional and contemporary methods and have no difficulty with traditional methods of teaching that are no loner…

Reports results of the assessment of Elementary French 1 Online, the first course to be offered under the Language Online Project at Carnegie Mellon University. The purpose of the assessment was to determine if there were significant differences in achievement, satisfaction, and time spent on the course between the students in the online course…

Suggests that one way to provide cultural contexts for language learning is by using feature films for instructional purposes. Highlights the benefits of feature films, discusses the selection of films, and describes a process for using feature films in the language classroom. (Author/VWL)

Provides a rationale for content-based instruction and demonstrates how project work can be integrated into content-based classrooms. Outlines the primary characteristics of project work, introduces project work in its various configurations, and presents practical guidelines for sequencing and developing a project. (Author/VWL)

The social psychological constructs postulated by Garner, Clement et al. are integrated into a proposed new framework of second/foreign language (L2) learning motivation. The proposed model comprises three levels: language, learner, and learning situation. Practical examples for motivating L2 learners are presented. (55 references) (LB)

Discusses problems surrounding the teaching of Portuguese in the United Kingdom. The traditional low profile of Portuguese teaching has produced a vicious circle of scarcity of both material and human resources for this language. However, as satisfied students conquer the language at an advanced level, some will eventually pass on their knowledge…

Describes an interactive approach to the study of German lyric texts, based upon reader response theory. Using this approach, students observe themselves and their reactions to the experience, and their observations become the basis for class discussion and analysis of the text. (GLR)

Presents an in-class writing exercise that is designed to stimulate creativity and promote sophistication of style in the advanced conversation and composition German language class. (GLR)

In a survey, 130 English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students were asked to describe the meanings of English tenses in terms of time concepts used in ESL grammar texts. Results suggest that grammar teaching utilizing descriptions of time accepted in English-speaking communities to explain usages and meanings of English tenses can limit learner…

Discusses findings of a research project to determine whether the teacher's reading aloud to listeners of English as a foreign language leads to a significantly higher level of comprehension than when the learners read silently on their own. Results showed a positive effect on learner comprehension. (10 references) (GLR)

Describes collaborative storytelling as a means of combining communicative teaching methods with peer or group learning in a beginning Chinese course at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Vocabulary, grammatical patterns, socialization, and story cycles are noted. Stories are appended. (Contains eight references.) (JP)