This report examines the implementation of a five-day French immersion program whose goal was to expose rural secondary school students to French in cultural context, in order to develop cultural understanding and effective communication. Findings of the study show: (1) 14 percent of the program time was spent on instructional activity, 20 percent…

This program was designed to permit students to enroll in elementary Spanish in any academic term. A lesson packet containing five parts was designed to accompany a regular text for first-year college Spanish. During the first week of classes, the students meet in a large group for instruction on how to learn a language and how to use the…

Three research projects conducted by three major televised FLES programs attempted to assess the effect of follow-up activities by the classroom teacher. The programs involved in the projects were "Parlons Francais," the University of Illinois Foreign Language Instruction Project (Spanish), and the Denver-Stanford Project on the Context…

The results of a questionnaire from 16 European countries concerning the early teaching of modern languages are presented. The 16 countries involved are: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Federal Republic of Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The findings…

Presents the benefits and problems of an unusual exchange program involving graduate teaching assistants from Auburn University (Alabama) and prospective teachers from the Ecole Normale (Caen, France). Through journal entries, the students related their problems with living arrangements, differences in teaching methods, and their increased…

A selective chronology outlines events affecting foreign language education in the United States and the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages between 1952 and 1988. Three historical trends involving professional unity across language lines, greater professionalization and accountability, and greater public visibility are discussed. (CB)

A review of the literature concerning second language program evaluation looks at definitions of program evaluation, approaches taken to it, and the purposes that evaluation has fulfilled. Use of program evaluation to educate those working in or with second-language programs is recommended. (MSE)

Charts present information regarding college students' enrollment in modern foreign language classes and programs, based on a survey indicating that enrollment has increased and that the most commonly taught languages were Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Latin. (CB)

Suggests meaningful reward structures and programs to help foreign language junior faculty members develop as effective researchers, teachers, and members of a community of scholars, focusing on tenure criteria, collegiality, and congruence. (CB)

Distinguishes between second language learning and second language acquisition by considering the effectiveness of school foreign language programs. It is pointed out that the level of communicative competence or fluency achieved in such programs by foreign students is not that of native speakers. (CB)

A study of elementary school principals' (N=268) attitudes toward foreign language programs at the elementary level revealed that more than half believed that the elementary curriculum should include a foreign language program, but that implementing such a program was not high among their priorities. The questionnaire administered to the…

Describes a survey done to measure the extent to which courses in foreign languages for special purposes (FLSP) are part of the curriculum in higher education. Sixty-two percent of the responding colleges and universities offer FLSP courses. Survey results indicate growth potential of this relatively new field.

A successful advanced college-level French conversation course using French theater as a basis for students to learn oral skills has six phases: an overview of the history of French theater, reading, adaptation of the text, rehearsal-readings, final rehearsals, and performance. (MSE)

The development of core French programs is traced for each Canadian province and territory, and the extent of current offerings and program support is described, with special attention given to some programs. National program coordination to avoid duplication and effect improvements is advocated. (MSE)

Describes the undergraduate internship in conversation at New Mexico State University, a course which attempts to improve the oral communication of basic language classes. The course offers undergraduates opportunities to hold conversations with more advanced undergraduates in weekly meetings. In order to make the class nonthreatening, neither…