The call to expand opportunities for study abroad students in "non-traditional" locations has become a kind of mantra throughout the international education community. This call is almost always allied to the intent significantly to expand numbers going to these non-traditional locations. Of the three key objectives in the Lincoln…

This article documents the importance of collaborative dialogue as part of the process of second language learning. The stimulus for the dialogue we discuss in this article was a reformulation of a story written collaboratively in French by Nina and Dara, two adolescent French immersion students. A sociocultural theoretical perspective informs the…

This practitioner issue brief outlines successful strategies and recommendations for state-level policymakers, administrators, schools, and districts that are based on a 5-year evaluation study on the learning environment for ELLs in the state of California. This brief offers four critical building blocks that should be in place to effectively…

Two-way bilingual immersion programs are noteworthy within the context of US public education because, in them, the children of immigrants are essential assets. Language-minority and English-speaking pupils are grouped together, starting in kindergarten or earlier and extending at least through grade five, with a goal of bilingual proficiency and…

In parts of rural New Brunswick (Canada) a milder form of French immersion instruction was developed in the late 1970s. It is called "Extended Core French" or "Single Subject Immersion, grades 7-12." Twenty to 30 percent of students in these programs can reach the oral proficiency level achieved by Early Immersion Students.…

An explanation of a kindergarten French immersion program includes essential background information, details of implementation, problems encountered, practical and theoretical implications and suggested solutions to the difficulties encountered. (CK)

Research on factors related to the sociocultural effects of balanced biliteracy involving a European language and an Asian language is reviewed. Becoming biliterate and fluently bilingual in a European and an Asian language involves several complications not involved in acquiring two European languages. The biliterate in such a situation must…

The social and psychological factors which affect one person's acquisition of a second language are described in journal format. The psychological factors discussed are: (1) language shock, (2) culture shock, and (3) culture stress. The two social factors examined are both grouped under the term "social distance" but include (1) types of…

A review of the history of French immersion programs since their inception 15 years ago. The following topics are also addressed: a review of the findings of immersion research, new directions with regard to other forms of language teaching, quality of second language development, future research and teacher training. (AMH)

An overview of the program in grades 4-6. The objectives, particularly those concerning affective and psycho-motor development and communication, the role of the teacher, the division of time, and the subjects taught in English are discussed. Reasons for this kind of program organization are given. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

A brief description of a one-year immersion program occurring between elementary and secondary schools in the Chateauguay, Quebec, school district. The academic content, objectives, problems and results of the program and a plan for articulation with secondary schools are described. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

A study of the error patterns and corrections in the casual peer conversation of anglophones educated in a French immersion program shows the same peer correction patterns used by native speakers, undermining the assumed importance of peer talk in second language classes. (MSE)

Answers 20 frequently asked questions regarding implementation of elementary school foreign language immersion programs, including consideration of program goals, staffing, total versus partial immersion, student participation, effects on other programs and learning, and parent involvement. (CB)

Suggests that in certain regions of the country such as Iowa, two foreign language goals should take precedence over the goal of language proficiency in elementary schools: (1) to introduce children to other languages and cultures, and (2) to show that they can learn to communicate successfully in another language. (SED)

Discusses the reported patterns of address of first language and second language Welsh-speaking children. Concludes that it's possible that by adjusting their speech to accommodate the interlanguage of the L2 speakers, the L1 speakers lessen the need for the L2 speakers to go beyond a certain level of competence. (SED)