This presentation attempts to describe the current situation of French language instruction in the United States. As far as materials are concerned, there is a general tendency to emphasize communicative skills. Less attention is paid to literature, and more to the day-to-day activities of young French or Canadian people. Textbooks are generally…

The effect of ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching techniques on student learning was investigated. A group of 18 ESL teachers and their classes were observed across four lessons having a similar content. Students were pre- and post-tested over a six-month period in two measures of language performance: oral comprehension and production.…

This paper describes some experiences in foreign language teaching based on three objectives: (1) to prove that students have greater language learning potential than they show in the classroom; (2) to put the stress on communication; and (3) to keep the students motivated. The 41 subjects were the students in a beginning German class who met for…

Guided Design is an approach to course design aimed at developing a student's decision-making skills as well as teaching specific principles and concepts. A seven-point hierarchy of educational needs is defined, including: (1) self-preservation, (2) safety, (3) belonging, (4) respect, (5) knowledge, (6) sensitivity-sensibility, and (7)…

The fact that some people learn a second language more easily than others has prompted numerous studies designed to link one factor or another with successful language learning. This work examines a large number of these studies to assess the importance of various factors involved in language learning. The influencing factors suggested are grouped…

These notes are designed to accompany a series of 10 British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) television programs intended to give persons already familiar with French, an insight into aspects of contemporary Francophone societies. The programs revolve around various themes: (1) numbers and letters; (2) words and meanings; (3) eating patterns; (4)…

BECAUSE LANGUAGE ACQUISITION FOR A CHILD IS AN UNCONSCIOUS PROCESS, FOREIGN LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION IN THE ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM SHOULD AVOID "CONSCIOUS" LEARNING PROCEDURES AND STRIVE FOR A NATURAL SITUATION. LANGUAGE ACQUISITION FOR AN ADULT IS AN ARTIFICIAL, CONSCIOUS PROCESS, HOWEVER, AND NECESSITATES DIFFERENT TEACHING METHODS AND…

THE CONGRESS CONSIDERED THE PROBLEM OF FRENCH INSTRUCTION IN NEW ENGLAND CATHOLIC PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS. INCLUDED IN THESE PROCEEDINGS ARE THE TEXTS OF THE SPEECHES AND THE QUESTIONNAIRE SOLICITING REACTIONS TO A SPEECH OUTLINING DESIRABLE CHANGES IN FRENCH INSTRUCTION. AMONG THE PROPOSALS WAS THAT FRENCH BE ABANDONED AS THE LANGUAGE OF GENERAL…

This report presents an overview of three major research projects on the instruction of French as a second language. The projects are being carried out in the schools of the Ottawa Roman Catholic Separate School Board, the Carleton Roman Catholic Separate School Board, and the Carleton and Ottawa Boards of Education. The projects are concerned…

There are a variety of methods to impart the cultural setting of a foreign language. The teacher can use, among other things, cultural assimilators, films, mini-dramas, culture capsules, background lectures, and native-speaking class visitors. This last technique can be extremely effective but difficult to arrange and difficult to control once it…

COURSE CONTENT AND TEACHING METHODS FOR FIRST- THROUGH FOURTH-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL LATIN COURSES ARE OUTLINED. FIRST YEAR PROCEDURE INCLUDES A PATTERN DRILL, INTERPRETIVE READING BY THE TEACHER, STUDENT READING, STORY SUMMARY BY THE TEACHER IN WORDS THE STUDENTS ALREADY KNOW, AND FUNCTIONAL QUESTIONS TO TEST COMPREHENSION. GRAMMAR QUESTIONS ARE ASKED…

THE IDEAL LABORATORY DRILL FOR A READING LESSON SHOULD TEST COMPREHENSION OF THE MATERIAL AND ALSO BUILD UP AUDIOLINGUAL SKILLS. TO MEET THESE OBJECTIVES, DRILL QUESTIONS OF THE YES-NO, EITHER-OR, AND INFORMATIONAL TYPE MUST BE CAREFULLY DEVELOPED TO ELICIT APPROPRIATELY PATTERNED RESPONSES. THIS TYPE OF LABORATORY EXERCISE, COMBINED WITH…

An introduction provides a brief history of foreign language study in the primary school in various countries and a brief examination of the different attitudes toward early foreign language study. The body of the article presents a case for foreign language study in the primary school on the grounds of sociopolitical developments, trends in…

This book is addressed to language teachers, teachers in training, school inspectors, local education authorities, and researchers. Its three concerns are the analysis of language, method, and teaching. Under language analysis, attention is directed to language theory, description, differences, and learning. The section on method analysis begins…

A study of bilingualism among third-generation Americans of French-Canadian extraction briefly examines their linguistic superiority in French over monolingual students and appraises the appropriate psychological approaches to teaching this special group. The article suggests that an "educated standard French" be presented as an alternative to…