New trends in language teaching in Sweden away from the absolute direct method and the duty of the university to offer languages for special purposes are expressed. It is pointed out that language study integrated and combined with vocational subjects is beneficial. (SC)

Linguistic needs of non-linguist students of Belgian universities are assessed; skills that should be taught and approaches to use are discussed. The needs are twofold: scholastic and professional. Skills should be reading comprehension and oral and written knowledge. Approaches should be comprehensive. (SC)

Argues that both an over-theoretical approach and a too pragmatic orientation should be avoided in teaching reading in a second language. Examples of problems encountered by German learners of English are detailed against the background of a discussion of reading purposes. Course-planning to meet student needs is also discussed. (Author/AMH)

Based on a language-needs analysis for students in a German for engineering course, this article argues that teaching languages for special purposes needs to consider the subject-specific needs of specialists in a given field. It proposes that LSP courses need to be skill oriented and learner centered and should emphasize the role of…

Discusses three objectives of simulations in training language teachers: (1) embodying issues directly related to professional concerns, (2) fostering cross-cultural sensitivity, and (3) presenting the subject content of special purpose courses. Illustrates adapted vs. original material and open-ended, sketched, and fully developed formats. (SED)

Uses an analogy of Fordist and post-Fordist production management processes as a way of shedding light on language learning, particularly at the tertiary level. The article argues that Fordist methods provide an analogy for the way language teaching has been organized in the past. Post-Fordism provides a new analogy for the development of language…