Current educational research and possible directions for the improvement of second language education in schools are discussed in the light of current Canadian political and economic influences. The Ontario Ministry of Education has proposed three levels of proficiency in French as reasonable objectives to be achieved by secondary schools in their…

An investigation was undertaken to assess student attitudes toward learning and using French and their reasons for studying it. It was felt that a more thorough investigation of these issues might help to broaden knowledge of some of the non-educational, social consequences of immersion programs. English-speaking students in sixth and eleventh…

A research report summarizes second language study, language training practices, and trainee attitudes toward language learning in the Peace Corps. The two equal parts of the study consist of findings and appendixes. Conclusions are grouped under (1) training practices and trainee attitudes, (2) associations and relationships, and (3) qualitative…

This report examines a five-year pilot French program begun in 1970 with 34 grade eight public school students. The pedagogical approach used was the "conscious-active" method. (DB)

The decline in student enrollment in high school and college language programs is seen to be linked directly with student attitudes toward their classroom experiences in foreign language programs. Suggestions concerning teaching techniques for improving student motivation are discussed, and methods which involve the student personally as an active…

This book incorporates a general discussion of bilingualism and its relation to sociolinguistic facts with a description of the Redwood City, California, bilingual education project, begun in 1969. Chapter 1 describes the phenomenon of bilingualism, while Chapter 2 deals with the concept of bilingual education. The relationship between…

Teaching French can be a rewarding experience, yet this has not always been the case in Canada, where French is one of the official languages. There is a general misunderstanding of the average child's life at school and of the time and effort needed to develop any control of a second language. Departments of Education, publishers, politicians,…

In 1973-75, as a result of federal grants, the four major boards of education in Ontario experimented with different approaches to the teaching of French, and an evaluation of the experimental programs was also undertaken. The present report is an overview and evaluation of the entire research effort. Three approaches to French instruction have…

During a panel discussion on high school-university relations, with reference to language programs, the following problems were isolated: student attitudes toward academic work; non-academically inclined versus academically inclined students; differing levels of proficiency among incoming freshmen; different methodologies; and reduction in…

A "COURSE DROPOUT" IS A STUDENT WHO DROPS HIS STUDY OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AFTER 2 YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL. HE FULFILLS HIS MINIMUM FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR COLLEGE ENTRANCE, BUT DOES NOT HAVE A SUFFICIENT MASTERY TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE LANGUAGE ARTS. THE TREMENDOUS ATTRITION RATE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS HAS MANY…

Learning to swim and learning a foreign language are analagous activities, in that both are skills learned for different reasons. Few foreign language students will attain "near-native fluency;" nor will many of them become interpreters or teachers. Foreign language teachers must therefore revise priorities, restructure courses, adjust methods,…

A transcript is provided of a radio program broadcast February 24, 1978, on the state of foreign language education. The participants in the discussion were leaders in the field, teachers and students from many parts of the United States and from all educational levels. The subjects covered are: some problems facing foreign language programs; the…

Suggestions are made for the achievement of an interesting and successful language laboratory to the student as well as the instructor. (RM)

This study arose from the recently published report of the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) in Britain, "Primary French in the Balance" (1974). The study consists principally of a series of discussions between the project leader, Ontario Ministry of Education officials, the principal investigator, and other invited…

In order to make decisions about the continuation or alteration of different segments of a foreign language program, teachers must know what the student feels he needs and what he thinks he wants. The Edmonds, Washington, School District has, in the past several years, gathered this kind of information by means of surveys and studies of enrollment…