Teaching modern foreign languages is not all about communicative skills. It is also about testing functional abilities. While we still pay lip service to the creed of communicative language teaching, we have adopted test formats and teaching styles that follow a hidden agenda: the production of human capital. The main objective of teaching is…

The field of English as a second language has gone through a number of changes in the last decades and has seen extreme adjustments throughout the methods of teaching and curriculum planning. This article finds the relevance of the old methods to the new methods. After providing the background it becomes apparent that almost all the older methods…

"Communicative Competence" is today the avowed primary aim of foreign language teaching. This paper points out that communicative competence in this context differs from communicative competence between two native speakers of the same language. In the two cases the difficulties that appear are not the same. Various possible dialogue elements are…

Examines foreign language teaching methodologies developed in various parts of the United Kingdom, and then looks at implications for Australian classrooms. The establishment of a framework for adult language learning is stressed, based upon the language needs of the learner and the linguistic operations required in order to function effectively…

The authors cite reasons for the poor standard of spoken French in British secondary schools and put forward some practical ideas for oral activities. (SJL)

Examines the techniques and strategies that have been found helpful in making the transition from heavily structure-based English courses to a more communicative approach in Sri Lankan schools. Stresses that the teachers throughout the system need to be reoriented, citing that however strong their knowledge of structure, the students are unable to…

Focuses on basic principles that can be followed in planning a language course, by observing examples from a course designed to teach English as a second language to newly arrived adult migrants in Australia. In addition, the importance of identifying both long-term goals and immediate objectives is stressed, in terms of communicative proficiency…

Discusses positive and negative aspects of teaching language use--the Communicative Approach. While the Communicative Approach is learner-centered and develops the students' communicative competence, the design and current tactics of this methodology are criticized as being "decontextualized" and "abstracted." (SL)

Addresses problems that arise in applying functional/notional syllabus design to general-purpose academic courses. Proposes steps that attempt to solve three major problems: (1) how to link functional and linguistic categories; (2) on what basis to select and sequence materials; and (3) how to develop functional ability in all four skills.…

This framework provides guidelines for use in planning, implementing, and evaluating foreign language instruction. The emphasis is on the following topics: (1) goals, benefits, and rationale of foreign language study; (2) the need for foreign language learning as a catalyst for human interaction in a multicultural society; (3) organizational…

This article outlines the second language teaching method based on "capitalizable units" as proposed by Trim. The method is aimed at adult students and is based on: (1) student needs, and (2) the language functions that permit the student to operate effectively in a given speech community. (Text is in French.) (CLK)

Reexamines the theoretical presuppositions of current pedagogical second-language approaches, and questions certain assumptions that have been generally accepted. It is shown that the lack of a theoretical base for current approaches has led to weaknesses in second-language acquisition philosophy, language curriculum structuring, and the role of…

Most textbooks for teaching foreign languages have as their basis a grammatical syllabus. The theory has been that it is easier for students to learn a language if they are exposed to one part of the grammatical system at a time. Recently critics have questioned this theory, arguing that the grammatical syllabus fails to provide the necessary…

This program guide expresses the philosophy, goals, and objectives, and outlines the scope and sequence of Russian instruction at various levels for the public schools of Hawaii. The emphasis is on development of the communication skills--listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The goals, objectives, and performance expectations are presented…

Suggests that all uses of English are specific in their nature, and thus, all teaching of English as a foreign language should be addressed to specific purposes. It is argued that an English for Specific Purposes course should be characterized by the use of authentic materials, an orientation to purposeful activities, and self-access organization…