Because of the high incidence of structural similarity between Jamaican Creole and Standard English, many of the important differences between the two languages can be obscured. This fact and that of negative attitudes towards Creole are the principal problems encountered in teaching Creole. The lessons in this course on Jamaican Creole are based…

Methodological and theoretical options confronting second-language textbook authors are outlined. Analytic and synthetic methodological approaches, linguistic options, geographic variability, registers of language, spoken versus written language, cultural materials, and learners' level are discussed. (SW)

Describes a nine-stage approach, involving a slide program and the language lab, that puts students in authentic situations and provides them with an alternative series of protocols, verbal strategies, and syntactic transactions. (Author/RM)

This article discusses the concept of "threshold level" as it applies to second language learning and proficiency. The threshold level is seen as the minimum level of proficiency required to communicate basic needs and to interact successfully. (Text is in French.) (CLK)

A language teacher urges the use of authentic listening materials that do not conform to the strictest standards of spoken usage, as a way of getting to know the language's norms and variations. (MSE)

Attempts to establish a practical approach to teaching the various meanings of the German verb "handeln". Exercises that aid advanced students in understanding the verb's meaning include a complete list of all possible meanings of the verb, as well as sample sentences using the verb in a wide range of contexts. (LMO)

Presents a psycholinguistic analysis of young children's performance in Japanese before, during, and after a two-month stay in Japan from the perspective of Vygotsky and the Soviet school of psycholinguistics. Looks at the social function of their utterances, the types of regulation involved, and strategic functions that may be intended. (SED)

This paper examines the ways that intentions are formed in classroom interaction. The setting is an English lesson at a maritime institute, and the topic is the grounding of a freighter. The formation of intentions is seen as an interaction phenomenon. A systematic approach is adapted on mental phenomena. In this approach psychological phenomena,…

This study examines the special situation of nonnative speakers of English who teach foreign languages at U.S. institution. It argues that modules designed specifically for mentoring international foreign language teaching assistants (IFLTAs) must be included in teaching assistant workshops and seminars offered by foreign language departments.…

This collection of papers is divided into five parts. Part 1, "The Native Speaker," includes "The (Non)Native Standard Language in Foreign Language Education: A Critical Perspective" (Robert W. Train) and "The Native Speaker, the Student, and Woody Allen: Examining Traditional Roles in the Foreign Language Classroom"…

Describes an advanced, nonliterary Spanish course which can be adapted to high school classes. (EKN)

Proposes that instructors of advanced ESL courses for executives adopt the case method, which allows these executives to use the managerial skills they have developed over the years. Explains this method and describes the role of the instructor/consultant. (EKN)

Describes the functional/notional approach to language instruction, discussing key features, misconceptions, and practical applications of the model. (AM)

Pattern drill is criticized as being monotonous, not transferable to real-life situations, and not conducive to the development of communication-competence. Situational exercises are needed, designed to enable the learners to verbalize their wishes and needs. (IFS/WGA)

Discusses the implications of the tendency of adult second-language learners to develop a well-structured, simple form of language outside the classroom, i.e. the Basic Variety (BV). Focuses on the structural properties of the BV, the status of these properties and the reasons why some structural properties of "fully fledged" languages are more…