Foreign language instruction should focus on developing in students a coordinated set of basic language learning skills, the acquisition of which would make it possible for the student to learn more than one language. Such an instructional package would fit well into the communicative approach to language instruction, and would provide a common…

Second language learners are engaged in a self-directed learning program which is supported by regular interviews with their counsellor. Interviews with 15 persons were recorded during a 1-year period in order to get data for an analysis of the ways native and second language learning are similar to each other and so mutually helpful. The data…

The results of a series of three studies of classroom factors influencing English oral language development in Spanish speaking bilingual elementary students are reported. Teacher control of oral language practice, extra practice in oral language encoding for bilingual students, and similarities between the English proficiency scores of children…

This paper presents an overview of research literature on second language learning in children. Theories regarding these aspects of second language acquisition are summarized: (1) developmental stages of language acquisition; (2) the role of imitation and practice; (3) differences between oral and written language skills; (4) the ways in which…

The textbook is the center of the curriculum and syllabus in most classrooms; however, rarely does it provide enough information for learners to successfully acquire pragmatic competence. This paper reports on a qualitative and quantitative study of 8 English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) textbooks to determine…

Process writing and communicative-task-based instruction both assume productive tasks that prompt self-expression to motivate students and as the principal engine for developing L2 proficiency in the language classroom. Besides this, process writing and communicative-task-based instruction have much else in common, despite some obvious…

This paper presents a method for making foreign language learning meaningful and interesting through using language as a tool for communicating about the self and others. Drawing from techniques developed by behavioral scientists, the foreign language was used to develop students' self-awareness and confidence. Learning activities were created,…

Since 1971 the approach adopted in the teaching of English phonetics in Denmark has been a contrastive one. In this paper it is argued that although the original contrastive hypothesis (Lado 1957) has to be modified and weakened, a contrastive approach is highly useful in learning and teaching the pronunciation of a foreign language. Selected…

The ability of foreign students to read non-scientific material efficiently is important for rapid social and cultural integration. This report describes the reading comprehension section of a French language course aimed at foreign students at the Nancy Science Faculty. Exercises are presented which cover morpho-syntactic, communicative and…

French became the foremost medium of communication in Europe in the 18th century. In Germany the most widely used French textbook was Johan Valentin Meidinger's "Practische Franzoesische Grammatik." This textbook was apparently a huge success from the pedagogical and the commerical points of view. With a few minor revisions, it would…

NASILP (the National Association of Self-Instructional Language Programs) is a professional organization of academicians focusing on the development of self-instructional programs, primarily for uncommonly taught languages. Although the number of students in these languages is proportionally increasing, teachers find themselves in professional…

Perhaps the main forum for disseminating information about new techniques and materials to language teachers is the professional development workshop. Such workshops often proceed along similar lines: local teachers are brought together and a consultant is brought in to describe and illustrate a particular subject, with the expectation that…

This report summarizes a project which, among other points, investigated the following: (1) the content and design of the education offered to adults of limited schooling; (2) student and teacher attitudes toward the content and design of this education; and (3) the characteristics of those students who continue, and of those who discontinue,…

Specific areas in foreign language teacher training programs are defined as problem areas: the teaching of culture, activities to promote the study of foreign languages, and language testing. It is stated that foreign language teachers should have competence in (1) content area, (2) the learning-teaching process, and (3) the relationship of…

This list of minimal competencies for foreign language teachers is broken down into the following categories: (1) practical command of the foreign language, (2) language analysis, (3) culture, (4) teaching-learning process, and (5) professional. Each category has three parts: competence, indicator (a brief description of the activity or ability by…