Dissatisfied with results of traditional language instruction at the university level, the German department at the University of California at Berkeley developed an individualized program for introductory German courses. The author discusses the rationale of the program, problems in curriculum development, teacher recruitment, and student…

Learning theories proposed by William Glasser in his text, "Schools without Failure," were implemented in an individualized language instruction program in a small high school in northern Ohio. The theory suggests that the success factor is far more significant than the failure factor in developing learning motivation. The belief that individuals…

The concept of "motivation" is examined in this article in terms of anxiety levels and anxiety reduction. Three major factors bearing upon the degree to which students are motivated toward the study of foreign languages are personal interest, attitude, and ability. Dr. Smith urges more individualized instruction and personalized student evaluation…

A rationale for and implications of independent foreign language study programs are developed in this article. Porgrams at the Department of Germanic Languages at the University of Pittsburgh focus on problems and advantages resulting from such programs. Specific remarks are directed to methodology, the course syllabus, and grading procedures. (RL)

This issue of a continuing newsletter on individualizing language instruction provides discussion of how several educators have implemented individualized language programs in their school systems. Editorial comments introduce articles on: 'No-Fail' German Individualized Program at the University of California at Riverside, (2) Self-Paced…

Proposes a method of individualizing instruction in scientific or technical fields in an institution of higher learning where the language of instruction is French but the students have varying levels of proficiency in the language. (AM)

Discussion of the nature of student-teacher contracts pertaining to academic work to be performed by the student and evaluated by the teacher covers a wide range of related issues in this article. The nature of contracts, evaluation procedures, instructional materials, community attitudes, and the individualization of instruction are commented on…

Describes features of Harry Reinert's "ELSIE"; Joseph Hill's "Cognitive Style Interest Inventory"; Anthony Papalia's "Learning Modalities and Individual Difference Inventories"; David Hunt's "Paragraph Completion Method"; and the Dunn, Dunn, and Price "Learning Style Inventory." Although dissimilar in scope and emphases, these instruments…

Individualized learning is one of the current educational trends. This approach is an answer to the differences found among students in terms of their abilities and disabilities, learning styles, objectives, and interests. Individualized instruction calls for a synthesis of strategies, which should be categorized in a hierarchy projecting all…

This compilation of commentaries underscores the belief that the essence of individualized instruction lies in the implementation of a variety of alternative structures activated by shared teaching roles. The remarks focus on several topics which include a description of a self-instructional course in Japanese, computer-assisted instruction in…

A meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization confirmed that teachers and research workers have been faced with the problem of diversification of methods and techniques in language teaching and with the necessity of adapting approaches to the specific needs of the many categories of learners. A new approach in…

This anthology of selected articles aims to assist teachers of foreign languages develop effective individualized programs. Introductory remarks underscore the importance of changing teacher attitudes toward their relationship with their students as well as individualizing their instruction. The nature of individualized instruction is examined in…

Discusses strategies designed to cope with problems encountered at the college level that are caused by students' diversity in background and levels of competency. Alternatives to the lock-step method of instruction, with applicability at both the college and high school level, are described. (EJS)

The aims of this meeting of the group of experts set up to investigate the feasibility of a unit/credit system for modern language learning by adults were: (1) to define, on the basis of the results of three preliminary interrelated studies, the second phase of the research, namely, the operational specification of learning objectives; (2) to…

Articles on individualization in English language learning, a bibliography and list of selected additions to the English Teaching Information Centre archives (October 1977 - April 1978), and a list of recent publications are presented. An introduction by Elizabeth Smyth and the following articles are included: "Autonomy, Self-Directed Learning and…