Discusses the use of Language Medium Teaching (LMT) in an experimental project at Craigroyston High School in Edinburgh, Scotland. Students in the LMT immersion program are taught geography in French. Also discussed are the use of LMT in the Scottish Primary Pilot program at Balerno High School and its feeder primary schools. (MDM)

This article uses diary data to examine a British learner's self-study experience of Hungarian, with reference to lexis. From this learner's experience, it is suggested that building a working lexicon is the single most important task facing the learner. (40 references) (MDM)

A common theme in justifications for autonomy in language learning is that autonomous learners become more highly motivated and work more effectively. This paper reviews the literature on motivation and suggests that an important link exists between autonomy and some theories of motivation that could explain the claimed power of autonomy. (24…

Discusses problems inherent in the content of modern language syllabuses. True communication occurs when the focus of classroom activities is on the message. The success of the lesson derives from the quality of the presentation and, crucially, the vocabulary list and the pupils' prior knowledge of the concepts underlying the content. (six…

Presents the results of research designed to explore the possibilities of expanding the number of students in Arabic studies departments and to develop recommendations for admissions policies and course structures. There is a need for cooperation among Arabic departments on innovation in language teaching and for an improved image of Arabic…

Describes a way of using English concordances, when English is the language of instruction, in the teaching of German. The article suggests that concordances have the potential to address problems faced by undergraduate learners. These problems include a lack of awareness of different levels of meaning in language. (two references) (CK)

This article aims to outline business people's characteristics as adult learners regarding motivation, experience, and self-directedness in learning; to describe advantages and problems that arise from these when teaching foreign language vocational courses; and to explore the implications of this situation for foreign language adult educators.…

Investigated the interrelationship between meaning construction and testing tasks in English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) tests written in both Hebrew and English taken by 28 Israeli 10th graders. Results found that the testing task functioned as an additional information source that was used by the students to develop mental models of English…

A total of 102 university English majors were administered 4 different language tests to form a General Language Proficiency measure against which the C-test was evaluated. Results confirmed its reliability and validity and also provided data on text difficulty/appropriateness, word structure, content, and different scoring methods. (13…

A pilot experiment showed that Arabic speakers tended to confuse words with similar consonantal structures. Findings support the hypothesis that Arabic-speaking learners of English, because of the lexical structure and orthography of their native language, tend to rely heavily on consonants when attempting to recognize English words. (five…

Sample materials designed to enable advanced learners to read more effectively for academic purposes are presented that focus learners' attention on the role of various cohesive devices in relating parts of a text. Discovery exercises applied to an authentic text show learners ways the devices can help them understand the text. (13 references)…

The problem of failure and underachievement in foreign language learning is associated with negative attitudes and poor motivation rather than lack of aptitude. Results of a survey of low achievers at the University of Bahrain are reported. (19 references) (Author/LB)

After a brief review of trends in language labs, the history of Wisconsin's Learning Support Services (LSS) lab, which grew into an independent department serving all foreign languages, is traced. Its evolution included the development of an extensive library, audio studio, video service, and special cataloging and outreach system. (11 references)…

Interviews and biographical sketches of 16 minority students and teachers of German at 3 universities and 1 school district are reported. The process of acquiring the language and becoming familiar with a foreign culture unites these individuals of otherwise diverse ethnicity, background, and experience. (Author/LB)

The acquisition of German in three adult Poles over a three-year period is examined based on an acquisition profile of each person that specified the sequences in acquisition. The findings suggest that cognitive factors must be considered to explain the varying degree of success in the acquisition process. (40 references) (Author/LB)