Structures of first-year French courses in Canada are similar except for contact hours. Enrollment is generally increasing, despite staff funding problems. Textbook choices change slowly, and eclectic methodology predominates. Institutional enrollments, trends, class hours, and course types are charted, and a list of textbooks is included. (MSE)

Describes a one-semester conversational course taught at Harvard University designed to teach basic oral communication skills in French with the main emphasis on teaching students to pause while speaking. (AM)

Examines how sound spectrographs provide students learning a second language direct, visual feedback that is more useful than instructors' comments on articulation. Shows spectrographs of words pronounced by native and non-native English speakers. Argues this real-time acoustic analysis is less frustrating and more productive than traditional…

This handbook for teachers of Italian consists of a collection of 16 essays by noted professionals in the field of Italian instruction: (1) "Fundamentals of Language Learning and Language Instruction," by A. Papalia; (2) "Linguistic Methodology and the Teacher of Italian," by R.J. Di Pietro; (3) "Preparation for Language Teaching," by F.J. Bosco;…

These three reports describe courses in oral or written skills in English as a second language organized by the Centre de Recherches et d'Applications Pedagogiques en Langues for groups of highly specialized learners (medical and forestry researchers and computer operators). Evidence is supplied for supporting the contention that a…

The progress of three groups of university students enrolled in a first-year German course was evaluated after one completed academic year. The achievements of two control groups, a day and an evening class taught by conventional methods, were compared with those of an experimental group taught using suggestopedic methods. Additionally, for the…

The potential impact of French immersion programs on English-language universities in Canada is discussed, including the demands of increasing numbers of immersion graduates for expanded, nontraditional French-language offerings. Applications of the immersion approach to university-level second language instruction are classified, particularly…

The political, cultural, and social factors that have influenced English language teaching in the People's Republic of China's colleges are examined. First, a brief history of English teaching in China is presented, beginning in the mid-19th century and focusing on the 1949 Revolution, the 1960 Sino-Soviet split, and the the Cultural Revolution of…

A project to develop English reading texts for Japanese college students is described. Goals were to develop materials that will: (1) give students information about the United States, (2) interest students in reading English, (3) help students improve their reading skills, and (4) expose students to a variety of literary forms. Fifty important…

Describes an overview of language research and courses in British institutions of higher learning. Information is provided on the view of language held there, the development of the functional/notional approach, demands on the language teaching profession resulting from the Council of Europe proposals, and immigration into Britain. (Author/AMH)

The general focus of the papers in these proceedings is communication and the specific purpose for which persons study a foreign language. The following papers are included: (1) "Marketing Your Innovative Language Program," by S. Sadow; (2) "The Implementation of Taped Interviews in Foreign Language Courses," by J. Frommer and M. Collins Weitz;…

This new method for teaching college English in India is based on prior assumptions but is given a justification and a methodological framework previously lacking. The method, which lies somewhere between the manipulative control and regimentation employed at the school level and the total freedom of the existing college method, is described in…

Australia's Griffith University introduced computer assisted language learning (CALL) to existing language curricula in the Department of Asian and International Studies, offering professional development to support the faculty. Evaluation of faculty and student attitudes and program outcomes indicated that with appropriate support, CALL had a…

Five brief essays are presented in response to an earlier article on leadership in college foreign-language departments. They address issues of curriculum redesign, pedagogical change, the nature of language teaching, the professional identity of language teachers, the role of professional organizations, and the traditional departmental model. A…

An informal guide to the self-evaluation of school and college foreign language programs is presented. Its purpose is to suggest guidelines to departments that have not yet developed their own full evaluative procedures. Questions relate to: (1) philosophy and goals; (2) curriculum, methods, materials, and facilities; (3) faculty training and…