A preprint from a forthcoming pamphlet of the National Conference on Research in English. (Editor/SW)

Discusses three language concepts which require urgent attention of social studies teachers. Students need practice in processing the ideas of the social sciences. More attention needs to be directed to teaching the vocabulary of the social studies. Building a background of basic knowledge in social studies is essential. (RM)

Discusses the value of rhymes in developing children's concepts of story and pleasure in reading. (HOD)

Examines the effect of teaching signs on the expressive language output of young hearing children. Discusses practical application of this technique for enhancing language development. (EKN)

Describes workshops in which French and German youth spend three weeks together during the summer vacation learning each other's language and becoming acquainted with the other culture. Questions concerning teaching materials, instructors, methods, group dynamics, and incentives to learn another language are discussed. (AMH)

Discusses the development of drama as a learning tool for children's language development. Applies James Britton's methods of language classification to the construction of functional categories of language that operate within the framework of drama and creative dramatics. (RL)

Describes an infant and toddler public library program called "Mother Goose Time." It is a language enrichment program that uses rhymes, songs, and books to lay the foundations of listening, learning, and literacy. Activities are planned according to the babies' motor skills--they are divided into two groups, "prewalkers" and "walkers". A list of…

Describes college-level Spanish conversation courses that also focus on content to help those teacher education students who cannot or will not take Spanish literature, civilization, or linguistic courses. (CB)

Novice second-language learners can understand and benefit from authentic reading and listening language texts that are not typically introduced until students have intermediate or advanced language skills. Early exposure to such texts can help learners develop useful listening strategies for more complex tasks. (Author/CB)

Presents a nine-lesson plan that uses a French song to help improve Australian students' skills in the following areas: (1) translating from French into English; (2) listening for understanding; (3) listening for imitation; (4) oral imitation; (5) writing; and (6) researching. (CB)

Kanji City, a hypermedia program for teaching Japanese through trial-and-error exploration of a simulated real-life environment, is described. The possibilities for designing materials in hypermedia format, and the advantages of Hypercard's potential for integrating text with synthesized sound, interactive graphics, and animation are explored.…

Describes several techniques for using authentic materials to improve foreign language (French) listening skills, particularly through enhancement of "skimming" and "scanning" listening techniques. (CB)

Discusses the role of picture storybooks in developmental education, indicating that these deceptively simple books can provide interest and variety to the classroom, offer self-confidence to hesitant and language-diverse students, and easily remedy gaps in background knowledge for many different content areas. Includes possible example…