In a study of learners' levels of comfort with language activity types allowing differing degrees of interaction, 110 first-year college students of French, Spanish, and Italian were surveyed at a university and community college. Results suggest the value of activities facilitative of negotiated interaction. The questionnaire is appended. (10…

Describes a translation and interpretation program at the University of California, Long Beach. The program affords students in both English and Spanish an opportunity to develop and perfect their linguistic skills and cultural knowledge to pursue a career in the field of translation and interpretation. The program covers technical vocabulary,…

The study and appreciation of literature should retain its traditional position at the center of foreign language study. A "problem-centered" model is described for teaching literature in the undergraduate foreign language classroom using texts organized around a series of complex critical problems. (CB)

A survey of college students' attitudes toward use of the language laboratory found that an initial positive attitude toward the laboratory in the first semester becomes more negative during the second semester, suggesting that new instructional materials are needed to maintain the initial favorable attitude toward the laboratory. (CB)

Discusses some problems experienced by doctoral degree foreign language graduates in seeking fulfilling career positions and suggests some aspects of the employment market and position search process that the graduate should consider when seeking a position. (CB)

Describes experiment at Trinity College in Dublin in teaching Russian to future language teachers with objectives of sensitizing future teachers to problems of language learners and research. (BK)

Provides a synoptic history of African language programming in the United States and follows with an exploration of the design, properties, and national impact of a National African language Resource Center. (Author/VWL)

In an attempt to address diversity, students at the University of California established a task force in 1991 to promote German among students from underrepresented groups. This report outlines the major objectives and achievements of the task force in its first year. (four references) (Author/LB)

A professionally oriented language course at the University of New South Wales (Australia) is described that is designed for students who have studied German in high school and wish to continue studying it to enhance their employment prospects. Both linguistic proficiency and German business culture are emphasized. (LB)

Discusses a National Foreign Language Center survey of 240 randomly-selected higher-education Spanish programs on the availability and the nature of programming for heritage speakers of Spanish. The survey queried the need for such programming and challenges to meeting needs of heritage learners. Results are discussed. (Author/VWL)

Gives an account of the challenges, obstacles, and successes involved in the process of merging an English and a foreign language department at Mansfield University n Pennsylvania. (Author/VWL)

Investigated the effects of written input enhancement and text length on college students' second-language comprehension and intake. First-year Spanish students were exposed to one of four conditions with enhanced and non-enhanced short and long text. Exposing students to short authentic reading materials facilitated reading comprehension but not…

Seeks to guide language program coordinators in the creation of a teaching assistant (TA) handbook on logistics and administrative duties in second and foreign language programs at the university level. (Author/VWL)

Briefly summarizes the history of language instruction in the United States, and offers statements and recommendations with regard to language instruction at the university level. (AM)

In response to an earlier article on foreign language learning disabilities in college students, the article reports on a similar study using the Modern Language Aptitude Test and concludes that, as yet, tests are not adequate to determine a disability affecting foreign language learning. (DB)