A set of specific and practical ideas for teaching language skills are presented, centered around the use of charts or "squares" of pictures that represent ideas that can be expressed in basic English. The focus is a story square, a system of pictures tied together by a plot and presented to the class as a puzzle. Squares for pronunciation can be…

Some of the possibilities for taking language learning and instruction into the larger classroom of the school, the community, and the world are considered. Programs conducted within the school or college campus but outside of the usual classroom include intensive language courses and interdisciplinary courses. A step farther from the traditional…

Developments in the field of teaching culture are outlined, and some directions for further reading and development are listed. The focus is on multicultural materials, with only occasional reference to culture-specific media. Most of the literature surveyed is in the field of foreign language education, but some attempt was made to sample current…

This paper brings out the structure and salient features of the Computer-Based Hindi Teaching (CBHT) course, which is being developed at the University of Illinois. The following topics are treated specifically: (1) areas of the Hindi Language course that can be efficiently and economically taught with computer-based pedagogy; (2) a demonstration…

Questions related to the teaching of Russian and Soviet literature in the second language programs in India are explored, particularly, the amount of time to be devoted to the study of literature, an appropriate method, and the most appropriate time to introduce it. Russian has been taught in India for only 30 years and only recently have…

DESIGNED AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR PROFESSIONALS PREPARING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, PLANNING COURSES, OR DEVELOPING CLASSROOM TECHNIQUES FOR FOREIGN LANGUAGE PROGRAMS, A SERIES OF STUDIES HAS BEEN PREPARED THAT CONTRASTS, IN TWO VOLUMES FOR EACH OF THE FIVE MOST COMMONLY TAUGHT FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN THE UNITED STATES, THE SOUND AND GRAMMATICAL…

This paper presents some reasons for reconsidering the use of discrete structure-point tests of language proficiency, and suggests an alternative basis for designing proficiency tests. Discrete point tests are one of the primary tools of the audio-lingual method of teaching a foreign language and are based on certain assumptions, including the…

It is claimed that the cognate approach to learning a foreign language is used successfully in commercial enterprises and that it could be applied more extensively to second language learning in an academic setting. Such an approach is presented in this textbook about cognates. Four aspects of the question are considered: (1) a psychological frame…

This inquiry into the role of literature in English as a second language is based upon an examination of six basic issues or principles: (1) the position of English as a foreign language within a country; (2) the aims of English instruction within a country; (3) the way in which the native literature is taught in a country; (4) the availability of…

Extracts from a journal kept by a French-speaking adult student in an intensive German language class are presented here. It is a critique of the audio-visual method, texts, teaching techniques, and students' reactions during the two parts of the course at the University of Berne. The extracts deal particularly with a comparison of the texts used…

The wide assortment of books and seminars on assertiveness training shows a growing desire among people to learn how to express their feelings. This paper attempts to adapt many of these techniques to the foreign language classroom. Sixteen activities which enable students to practice communication are proposed. They encompass all levels of…

Now that teachers and administrators have become aware of the administrative organization of the language laboratory and the daily routine essential to the proper functioning of its equipment, attention ought to be focused on its more creative use in enhancing the learning processes. This orientation in attitude is reflected in the newly generated…

FOUR NEW DIRECTIONS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING REFLECT THE IMPORTANCE OF USING INSIGHTS FROM OTHER DISCIPLINES TO STIMULATE NEW APPROACHES TO OLD PROBLEMS. FIRST, FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING MATERIALS AND METHODS MUST BE BASED ON ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS AND CROSS-CULTURAL COMPARISONS OF THE SYSTEMS OF COMMUNICATIVE SIGNALS WHICH PEOPLE PRODUCE AND…

STANDARDS ARE PROPOSED FOR STUDENT UNDERSTANDING IN THE SOCIOCULTURAL COMPONENTS OF A LEVEL II LANGUAGE COURSE, OR AFTER THE FIRST TWO YEARS OF A LANGUAGE IN HIGH SCHOOL. BRIEF STATEMENTS OF STANDARDS FOR LEVELS I, III, AND IV ARE PROVIDED AS BACKGROUND. IT IS ASSUMED THAT NO ENGLISH WILL BE USED IN CLASS, AND THAT CULTURAL INSIGHTS WILL BE TAUGHT…

A foreign language and culture program is advocated in place of the traditional language and literature program in today's schools. The potential importance of television and films in presenting cultural context is stressed, but the poor caliber of existing foreign language television programs in the United States (with a few notable exceptions)…