Enrollment trends and factors that influence foreign language study in colleges and universities are discussed. Most college foreign language programs have emphasized the study of literature and have not been committed to the training of teachers or the teaching of civilization or culture. It appears that students' concern about the job market and…

A 1953 MODERN LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION-SPONSORED CONFERENCE OF SPECIALISTS ON TEACHING FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS DREW UP A SERIES OF ANSWERS TO THE MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT FLES. IN 1954, SPECIALISTS IN ELEMENTARY EDUCATION MET TO CRITICIZE THESE ANSWERS AND TO DISCUSS PROBLEMS IN FLES. THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS BOTH THE…

Recommendations for integrating instruction in business and foreign languages to prepare future business workers to deal with increasing need for international business-related exchange include: exchange with business instructors abroad; insight into other countries' cultural traditions; and exposure to native speakers. (CB)

It seems irrefutable that the world is progressing in concert with computer science. Educational applications and projects for first and second language acquisition have not been left behind. However, currently it seems that the reputation of completely computer-based language learning courses has taken a nosedive, and, consequently there has been…

This study investigated the effectiveness of a second language program in seven schools in a medium-sized school district in central California during the 1994-95 school year. Three educational levels (elementary, middle, and high school) were examined from the perspectives of teachers (n=194), administrators (n=23), instructional aides (n=40),…

A study investigated Japanese college students' perceptions and assessments of their college English classes, and to what factors they attribute difficulty in acquiring oral English. Subjects were 189 students from a junior college and a university, in first- through third-year English conversation classes. Most were English majors required to…

Issues 2-4 of this volume of the newsletter concerning foreign language instruction in elementary schools (FLES) contain articles on theory, classroom practice, instructional materials, class activities, and professional news, including conferences and information on public policy at the federal level. Articles in these issues include the…

A small college in Iowa (Westmar College) undertook an experimental program to determine an experimental program to determine reading skills of underprepared students. Subjects were 20 students reading below the 12th grade level, of whom 9 were chosen randomly and offered a beginning German course instead of remedial reading. All elected to take…

Although "Sharing Time" is a popular and widespread activity in English for Young Learners (L2) classrooms around the world, there have so far been no research studies of the interaction that is generated and its relationship to learning processes. The aims of this study were to find out how interaction is organized during "Sharing…

This guide is designed to help administrators, program coordinators, and teachers of bilingual children devise more effective ways of helping children learn. The role of evaluation in program planning and execution is described and some general factors to be considered when planning and evaluating bilingual education programs are reviewed. The…

THE VARIETY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING SEQUENCES IN MINNESOTA HAS CAUSED A SERIOUS ARTICULATION PROBLEM--BETWEEN LEVELS WITHIN A GIVEN SEQUENCE, BETWEEN SEQUENCES, AND IN INTEGRATING DIFFERENT SEQUENCES AT THE MORE ADVANCED LEVELS. TO HELP ALLEVIATE THESE PROBLEMS THREE COURSES OF STUDY ARE SUGGESTED AND DESCRIBED IN THIS GUIDE. SEQUENCE A…

Trends in foreign language teaching are indicated through an examination of studies and projects conducted during the period 1953-58. Areas covered are the FLES programs, the problems of articulation, the language curriculum in secondary schools and colleges, teacher education, research interpretation, and testing as a key to evaluation. The…

The "ERIC Review" announces research results, publications, and new programs relevant to each issue's theme. This issue focuses on foreign language education in grades K-12. Articles include: "Second Language Learning: Everyone Can Benefit" (Kathleen M. Marcos); "Foreign Language Education in the United States: Trends and…

Examination of ways college second language teaching must adapt to new student needs looks at changing characteristics of students, their new educational goals and expectations of higher education, effects of these shifts on the classroom, new time considerations, the need to find creative ways to meet diverse student goals, and use of technology…

Recommends eight strategies schools and individual teachers can use to best meet the needs of immigrant students, particularly East Asian students, in English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. Discusses program design, teacher training and cooperation, learning styles and teaching styles, individual background and needs, peer acceptance issues,…