An increasingly interconnected world requires people to become versatile communicators in a variety of different settings. Language centers have a critical role to play in this process by offering language and culture training in multiple languages to students, professionals and the wider community alike. They may do so from the perspective of…

English language tutoring and/or self-access centers are services commonly offered as curricular support to English language program students in educational environments worldwide. This paper argues that the theory of self-directed learning (SDL) from the field of adult education should be considered alongside the equally-important areas of…

This study investigates the ways in which synchronous and asynchronous activities create an online language laboratory that mediates second language (L2) learning for 188 L2 university participants over a 6-week period. Completion of tasks and pre-, post-, and weekly surveys were analyzed. Statistical analyses were run on self-rated questions…

This volume presents a systematic approach to developing advanced English language competence at tertiary level. It includes the reflections of experienced language teachers and teacher-researchers in the English Language Competence programme at the University of Vienna and provides examples of good practice, amalgamating teaching expertise and…

Today's language classroom is vastly different from that of the mid- to late 20th century. The study is a meta-analysis of recent research which provided the means to identify current and emerging trends in the field. Informed by this research, some identified trends that are shaping the 21st century language classroom are outdated practices such…

Examines the status of foreign language education and makes recommendations for the future. (RB)

Supports the view that a teacher is needed to help students acquire foreign language skills and that language instruction cannot be exclusively entrusted to the language laboratory. (DS)

Argues that instructor monitoring in a language laboratory is an inefficient instructional method. (CK)

THE COMPLEMENTARY FUNCTIONS OF TEACHER AND LANGUAGE LABORATORY ARE OUTLINED, AND THE TEACHER'S ROLE AS MONITOR (LISTENING IN ON STUDENTS' WORK) IS DEFINED. INTERFERING, SPOTCHECKING, AND HAPHAZARD MONITORING ARE CAUTIONED AGAINST. IDEAL LAB GROUP SIZE SHOULD BE BETWEEN SIX AND 10 STUDENTS, TO ENABLE THE TEACHER TO KNOW DURING THE SESSION HOW HIS…

THE TEACHING OF MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES (FRENCH, GERMAN, ITALIAN, RUSSIAN, SPANISH, AND ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE) IN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS HAS BEEN REVOLUTIONIZED SINCE WORLD WAR II, WITH THE DEMAND FOR NEAR-NATIVE CONTROL OF A SECOND LANGUAGE FOR COMMUNICATION. THE PUBLIC FELT THAT THIS NEED MUST BE MET, ALONG…

Presents guidelines for the preparation of language teachers planning to use a language laboratory. (AM)