Describes a variation of content-based instruction for beginning-level language learners called content-enriched instruction (CEI). In CEI, emphasis is on cultural and real-world information, and vocabulary, grammar, and content are integrated to reflect a specific theme, or converge to represent a specific topic. (Author/CK) (28 references)

The Speech Perception in Noise Test was administered to nine native-Mexican Spanish-speaking adults who learned English either before age 6 or after age 14 and nine monolingual American-English adults. Levels of noise at which speech was intelligible were significantly higher and the benefit from context was significantly greater for monolinguals…

Presents a model process for "bottom-up" teacher development of a proficiency-oriented, criterion-referenced second or foreign-language curriculum. The process is designed for second- and foreign-language teachers and administrators at all levels of education to enhance articulation and coherence of teaching objectives and practices between levels…

Illustrates strategies for the practical application of a whole-language approach in the second- or foreign-language classroom. Both first- and second-language teachers were interviewed and observed for the study. Provides practical whole-language activities appropriate for secondary- or university-level classes. (Author/JL)

Brings together the Census data from 1891 to 1991 on the numbers of Irish, Manx, Scottish Gaelic and Welsh speakers in all part of the British Isles, with the exception of England. Concentrates on changes in the age structure of the Celtic-language-speaking populations as well as on the percentage of people speaking the language. (Author/JL)

Emphasizes five aspects important to a primary school second-language program in Australia: a program rationale; timing of program initiation; teaching milieu; frequency and length of lessons; and locus for the lessons. The article argues that a new language program must be set up for success and a recurrent budget allowing for print materials,…

Investigated the types of reception strategies and the frequency of their use by students of French as a second language at different levels of language proficiency, measured by an oral proficiency interview. A number of distinct strategies were identified: kinesics, global reprises, hypothesis testing in English and uptaking. Results are…

Discusses the attitudes of students concerning the benefit of Year 12 foreign language courses to the development of their oral and aural proficiency in the target language, i.e., French. While most students felt that their ability to speak and understand spoken French had improved as a result of the course, some expressed dissatisfaction with…

Suggests a test to assess the language proficiency of second language teachers prior to their admission to teacher education programs in Canada or their being hired by a school board. The themes explored include education in general, classroom organization, stories as told by teachers and learners, and different forms of communication. (21…

Examines the significance of foreign languages for business, particularly Business Chinese, in the 1990s; its curriculum requirements; and the impact of business languages on international business. The article proposes a developmental plan for Business Chinese at the college level including goals, course materials, learning activities, and…

Examines the behavior of university students of Italian in Australia as they study the meanings of new Italian words. Repetition of the new words and their meanings was the primary learning strategy employed. Results indicate a need to distinguish between the use of context for "generation" of a new word and the use of context for…

Analyzes the social and historical reasons for the pervasive resistance among foreign language teachers in three countries to go beyond linguistic training and the anecdotal transmission of cultural facts. The article sketches the principles of a discourse-based pedagogy that views culture as language and language as culture. (36 references)…

This article describes a prototype for articulation for Spanish-language programs in the elementary schools, along with examples of how it can be used to create an articulated Spanish-language program within a current elementary school curriculum. (17 references) (Author/CK)

Discusses the use of writing assignments to improve the capacity of literature students to read and analyze assigned texts in the foreign language. The approach provides a higher level of motivation for self-correction that will enable students to overcome, rather than formalize, their errors. (Author/JL)

Ascertains the influence of the development of receptive phonetic skills on the level of listening comprehension of adults learning French as a second language in a formal setting. Test results indicate substantial gains in phonetics by the experimental group and a significant difference between the performance of experimental and control groups.…