Discusses basic models of the processes of translation, second language teaching and learning, and semantization. A judicious use of many procedures is urged, because translation is present in the semantization process regardless of method used. It is noted that considerable research is still needed. (AMH)

A discussion of the crisis in foreign language methodology and a short evaluation of methods employed at present. The pivotal position of the language teacher in choosing a combination of methods to respond to student needs and the importance of foreign languages in education are discussed. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

Discusses the contexts in which classroom data on foreign language acquisition has been collected and the effect that ignoring these contexts has had on the application of foreign language acquisition research to foreign language teaching and learning. A scheme to aid in analyzing the different approaches to linguistic data is presented. (SED)

A teacher makes a case for a positive relationship between improved student motivation for learning foreign languages and positive teacher attitudes and effective instructional techniques which address student ability levels and needs. (CB)

Study of Danish language needs of an immigrant student leads to the assertion that concepts pertaining to first- and second-language vocabulary need revision, particularly regarding certain minority languages and certain fields, including the distinction between "active" and "passive" vocabulary and first-language and…

Information is presented regarding the Sony 5510 Learning Laboratory to help educators decide if the system is appropriate for their needs. Aspects such as peripheral equipment, optional accessories, end users, user profiles, student reactions, future expansions, and instructional uses are considered. (CB)

A study of the error patterns and corrections in the casual peer conversation of anglophones educated in a French immersion program shows the same peer correction patterns used by native speakers, undermining the assumed importance of peer talk in second language classes. (MSE)

Explores some of the suggestive research on metaphor and extrapolates some general implications for second language learning and teaching. Communicating effectively in a second language involves one's ability to metaphorize. Moreover, the understanding of metaphor makes the learning process more meaningful for the student. (CB)

Analysis of multilingual acquisition processes among children at the European School of Brussels reveals how both curricular and extra-curricular factors combine to account for these students' high levels of proficiency in three or four languages. Schumann's (1979) Acculturation Model applied to one case study allows examination of how the…

The study and appreciation of literature should retain its traditional position at the center of foreign language study. A "problem-centered" model is described for teaching literature in the undergraduate foreign language classroom using texts organized around a series of complex critical problems. (CB)

The study of authentic texts gives students the opportunity to become functional in target-language situations. An exhaustive alphabetical list of authentic text types and corresponding learning activities are presented. Text types include: advertisements, bank materials, bills and receipts, calendars, captions, comics, commercials, decals, forms,…

Reviews key issues in the debate over the role of grammar in the American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview and in corresponding proficiency guidelines as well as the debate's potential impact on foreign language curricula. Data describing the grammatical accuracy of 40 interviews at various proficiency…

Argues that language varieties represent an important aspect of the development of bilingualism. Analysis of migrant children's acquisition of German and their productive, reactive, and receptive competence demonstrates that children who fail in the understanding and use of language varieties often lack the necessary sociocultural knowledge.…

Educators are urged to encourage gifted/talented students to teach themselves foreign languages. This essay discusses the lack of language requirements in schools, linguistic insensitivity or laziness shown by Americans, individuals' linguistic potential, goals of multilingual development, the appropriate time to introduce foreign languages, and…

Defines true bilingualism as biculturalism, explains what "understanding" another culture means, and describes how to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching methods for students from different cultures. Ideally, individuals learning a second language will acquire a "metacultural" consciousness that permits them to be comfortable in any cultural…