Examines the types of readings students are likely to encounter in the "real" world and how they will interact with them. The four approaches discussed include reading in a daily-life context, reading for information, reading for pleasure, and participatory reading. (21 references) (Author/CK)

Discusses an experimental project with a prelim group of students of Russian undertaken in order to incorporate various skills into the teaching environment. These skills include keyboard competence, time management, group interaction, and personal presentation. The project was a success; all participants improved in their Russian. (five…

Presents the results of a survey investigating foreign language needs in the legal profession. Questions in the survey focused on the foreign languages most relevant to the profession, entrance requirements regarding the level of knowledge of the foreign language, training requirements in the foreign language, and potential uses of the target…

Describes the development and organization of the Colt (Communicative Orientation of Language Teaching) observation scheme and Lyster and Ranta's (1997) error treatment model, instruments including predetermined categories to describe features of instructional input and interaction in second language classrooms. Concludes that the choice of…

Examines reasons for the failure of modern language teaching to fulfill its cultural aims and focuses on teaching methods, student assessment, course content, and teacher role. Conclusions are that teachers must be aware of the implications of different teaching strategies, their influence, and limitations. (17 references) (CK)

FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY IN SCHOOLS SHOULD BE PREDICATED ON THE NEED OF SOCIETIES TO COEXIST WITH OTHER CONTEMPORARY NATIONAL CULTURES. IN A WORLD THAT CONSISTS OF A LARGE NUMBER OF HISTORICALLY DETERMINED, SEPARATE CULTURES, LANGUAGE ALONE CAN PRESENT THE LINGUISTICALLY CONDITIONED THOUGHT PATTERNS, THE "REALITY," OF A SPECIFIC CULTURE. LANGUAGE…

Argues that the cultural content of a course derives from official language policies and national educational ideology, and that cultural studies in the classroom center on a balanced relationship between foreign and native cultures and include the management of attitudes towards foreignness and the construction of a new perception of learners'…

Discusses the Graded Objectives for Adults Learning (GOLF) Russian program. The aim of the GOLF program is to have four levels, with Level Four being considered equivalent to a good GCSE pass, at which stage students will have a good working knowledge of the language and a wide vocabulary. (CK)

Discusses the focus of foreign-language graduate programs on preparing students for their careers. The article argues that the spread of teaching-methods courses and the interest in the utility of education has transformed these programs into hybrids that lack intellectual discipline. The article concludes graduate programs in foreign languages…

Problem-based learning (PBL) is an instructional methodology placing primary emphasis on students solving realistic problems in a team-oriented environment. In this article, authors discuss using PBL to integrate a language for specific purposes (LSP) track into an undergraduate biological engineering curriculum as a way to prepare students for an…

FOR THOSE COLLEGES FACED WITH A CROWDED CURRICULUM, INFLEXIBLE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS, AND POORLY-PREPARED FRENCH STUDENTS, A ONE SEMESTER COURSE IN OLD FRENCH IS SUGGESTED. SUCH A COURSE WOULD FIT INTO A FLEXIBLE AND CONTINUOUS SEQUENCE OF CENTURY OR GENRE COURSES (WITH THE HASTY SURVEY COURSE ELIMINATED). COURSE OBJECTIVES SHOULD INCLUDE (1)…

Discusses the notion of "language needs" and suggests some learning activities designed to make second language learners aware of why they are studying the language while they are learning it. (AM)

Discusses the importance of clear objectives, pleasant learning atmosphere, and positive attitudes in the second language classroom handling low-ability students. A student questionnaire form is appended. (AM)

Emphasizes that the introduction of new technologies in the learning process of second languages should entail more didactic efficiency, educational effectiveness and pedagogical efficacy. Describes the Didascalia framework of criteria for added value. This framework requires an accurate, objective and adaptable specification of the added value of…