This case study describes how a high school in a mid-sized interior city of the United States with a rapidly growing population of English Language Learners (ELLs) ramped up its English as a Second Language (ESL) program to better meet the educational needs of its students, as well as to prepare them to meet the accountability requirements of the…

Hypothesizes that second language learning at the elementary level results in an increased development of potential creativity in children. (DS)

A one-semester course in Schwyzertutsch is described. The Swiss German dialect is taught as the twenty-sixth language in the noncredit extension service of the University of Queensland. (LB)

Argues for the inclusion of courses in phonetics and phonology in college Italian programs, claiming that the myth of Italian as a phonetic language blurs the clear need for such training and that students actually require advanced coursework in phonetics and phonology to improve their articulation and pronunciation. (43 references) (Author/CB)

This paper highlights the problem of falling recruitment to foreign language (FL) degrees in higher education (HE), outlining some of the recent changes in secondary FL education which have contributed in part to this situation. It draws attention to the lack of research into the impact that the fall in numbers of students taking a foreign…

One of the major challenges in second and foreign language education, is to create links between formal and informal learning environments. Mobile City and Language Guides present examples of theoretical and practical reflections on such links. This paper presents and discusses the first considerations of Mobile City and Language Guides in…

This digest provides a detailed description of the Program in Interpreting and Translating at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Specific sections address the following: (1) the degree emphasis; (2) formal training and professional relevance; (3) departmental provision for interpreting and translating; (4) the expertise and experience…

A French listening comprehension test administered to all grade 8 students taking core French in Ottawa schools is described. The test consists of 55 multiple choice questions which are heard along with preliminary descriptive material on a cassette recording. Part one requires students to hear a sentence and then decide which of four drawings…

The procedure for planning an international dinner to raise funds and publicize foreign language study is described. The project, which netted several hundred dollars for a high school in North Dakota, involves careful planning over a period of months. Publicity and facilities are discussed, and the various culinary and other jobs to be…

Gifted students share a number of common characteristics, including verbal proficiency, awareness and power of observation, curiosity and inquisitiveness, independence, friendliness, lack of discipline, competitiveness, self-criticism and criticism of others, opinionatedness, and dislike for routine and drill. These characteristics present a…

Suggests six changes in the teaching of foreign languages in the elementary school (FLES), among them increased attention to cultural understanding and the integration of FLES into the language arts program. (DD)

A discussion of Krashen's monitor theory and its applications to foreign language teaching includes consideration of the very important role input plays in language development and examination of the relationship between the development of grammatical competence and traditional instruction in grammar. (CB)

Examines the difficulties students face in making the transition from skills acquisition courses to the study of literature in college foreign language programs. Proposes the creation of a series of courses that emphasize the development of both communicative skills and the analytical tools needed for the study of literature. (SED)

Claims traditional study abroad programs are impractical for today's student; suggests creating more short-term academic programs abroad in 1980s. Suggests factors to consider: reasons for particular groups' interest in short-term programs, home institutions that are more receptive to shorter programs, ways to gain colleges' acceptance of…

The Self-Instructional Language Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is described. Students transcribe their own set of lessons from master tapes and are expected to study at least two hours daily. Each week they converse in small groups with native speaker "drill instructors." (MLW)