The piloting of a new English language curriculum in Singapore's lower primary and lower secondary school in 1992 is described in three sections: (1) reasons for revising the existing curriculum; (2) objectives and procedures of the pilot testing; and (3) findings. The existing curriculum, implemented in the early 1980s, was found to be too…

This paper presents findings of a case study that examined parent participation at Glen Katherine Primary School (Victoria, Australia). It focuses on parent participation in and attitudes toward the Language Other Than English (LOTE)-Italian program. A cooperative-research committee composed of a school administrator, LOTE program staff, parents,…

There is now a need, just like in industry, for quality assurance in education, for injecting systematically planned and formal processes, precise definitions, objectivity, and measurability in education. The demand for educational excellence in industry is "out there," and companies in more advanced countries are partnering educational…

A project is reported that developed a test for students in foreign language in the elementary school (FLES) programs. Relevant tests in Spanish and English as a Second Language (ESL) were reviewed in order to develop a listening and reading test that could determine achievement in a typical FLES curriculum. Pilot testing was conducted with 121…

The Kalamazoo College Foreign Study Program has been in operation since 1958 and continues to enroll 85% of its students for one, two, or three quarters. The program offers a wide variety of options in Europe, Latin America, and Africa. Administrative arrangements and supervision of the programs are done by the two directors of the program at…

Two Australian language curriculum development projects are discussed: the Australian Language Levels (ALL) Project and the National Assessment Framework for Languages at Senior Secondary Level (NAFLSSL). While distinct, both projects are closely linked. Each project was launched in 1985 in a favorable climate and in response to cost, enrollment,…

Researchers have suggested a language factor as an obstacle in the mathematics learning process for students who do not have a command of English. A review of the literature is presented, focusing on the nature of the interaction between language and mathematics learning. Implications for the design of instructional activities are presented, with…

This paper reports on the review and revision of the Overseas Refugee Training Program's curriculum in English as a second language. The discussion focuses on the rationale and guidelines for the revision, the resources used to guide the process, and the criteria used in the selection of competencies. Specific intentions in revising the list of…

Five units of instruction for teaching vocabulary and higher order thinking skills in foreign language classes are presented. Introductory material considers the differences between language fluency and communication, and lists higher order thinking skills as: (1) classifying, verifying, hypothesizing; (2) making associations and generalizing; (3)…

A comparison of four college-level elementary German textbooks reveals significant differences in the numbers of vocabulary entries in each textbook. Further comparison of three of the textbooks with the basic German vocabulary lists provided in "Kontaktschwelle Deutsch als Fremdsprache" and in "Das Zertificat Deutsch als Fremdsprache" reveal in…

The status of state foreign language programs is reviewed, and recommendations are made to improve the quality of foreign language education in North Carolina. The Foreign Language Curriculum Study Committee identified major language education issues in North Carolina, collected background information and data pertaining to these issues, analyzed…

The attention being given to foreign language education and international studies brings with it the realization that coalitions and interorganizational ventures are necessary. There is also the need for an understanding of the kind of organization with which one is dealing and how different organizations are likely to behave in…

The development of a Spanish for business course at Elmhurst College, a small undergraduate liberal arts college, is described. The course involves advanced conversation and composition focusing entirely on business and emphasizes vocabulary building and the function and composition of business documents. Another goal of the course is to provide…

The content and teaching methods of the commercial Spanish course at Indiana State University are detailed. The course emphasizes the conveyance of written information while improving the speaking skills of the less advanced students. Among the topics covered are employment correspondence, the job market for bilinguals, resumes, business…

The instructional approach of the Spanish for business course at Rollins College is described. The three-part approach includes (1) classroom instruction on business behavior in the Hispanic world, (2) the application of vocabulary and terminology, and (3) placement of students as unpaid interns in the international departments of local…