Innovations in the German program at this college include (1) an emphasis on Junior Year Abroad for all majors; (2) courses in German literature in English offered to non-German students; (3) a course in translating skills, from German to English, for advanced students. (CHK)

To mark the 40th anniversary of "Language Learning," the journal's first article is reprinted and identifies five motives for studying foreign languages: (1) "knowledge of a foreign language is the sign of a cultivated man"; (2) foreign insularism; (3) necessity of creating a political fusion; (4) trade and colonization; and (5) scientific and…

Discusses criteria to apply to key aspects of the inspection and monitoring process in modern language instruction. Quality assurance includes assessment of the whole learning environment. Ten characteristics of a good modern language lesson are listed. (six references) (CK)

Discusses the lack of emphasis on writing skills in elementary and intermediate language classes, the purpose and process of writing, and general recommendations for the incorporation of writing into the language curriculum. Contains specific examples of writing tasks, including the composition of telegrams, recipes, postcards, directions, and…

Explores how cross-curricular themes can be integrated into the modern languages lesson. Key requirements include the need to clarify objectives, identify what can be usefully explored, introduce cultural comparisons at the appropriate time, focus on authentic reading materials, and use a basic core language and previously developed activities.…

A book entitled "Interactive French Language Curricula of the Future: A Study of Computer and Video Potential" by Lydie Meunier-Cinko is summarized. Some examples of current computer and video use are outlined, with language skill applications discussed, and future design of interactive language curricula is examined. (MSE)

Discusses possibility of losing 90% of the existing 6,000 modern languages and importance of preserving languages and cultures. Government policies, including those of the United States, have contributed to this loss by imposing state languages to peoples and forbidding and punishing the use of native languages. Of the 207 native languages of…

This quarterly annotated bibliography lists periodicals, scholarly journals, and institutions that may be of interest to modern language teachers, and provides bibliographic information for modern language reference, research, and teaching materials. In each issue, an introductory section provides background information on sources and details the…

Analysis of the basic and alternative word order patterns of spoken and written modern Breton confirms it as a consistent VSO (verb, subject, object) language, possessing the principal operator/operand features posited for such languages, rather than having predominantly SVO word order as some recent research has suggested. However, as most…

In an attempt to offer present and prospective language majors new employment opportunities, the Departments of Germanic and Romance Languages and the College of Business Administration have developed a four-year program leading to both a Certificate in Business Administration and a B.A. with a major in French, German or Spanish. (KM)

Isolation of language study from other disciplines in Australia, and the resulting decline in foreign language learning, are described. The desirability of integration of foreign language and social science study is discussed. (RM)

The decline in foreign language study in New South Wales is described, and suggestions are made for change in course content and organization to make foreign language study interesting and helpful to a larger number of students. (RM)

This paper reports on the advantages of a university consortium, briefly describing the Washington Consortium of Universities. Specific attention is paid to the Consortium Committee on Latin American Studies. The mechanics of obtaining grants, and the resulting projects and accomplishments of the committee are discussed. (CLK)

Affective learning activities (ALA) are essential in foreign language learning. Although the cognitive domain is essential for learning to take place, lesson content is more interesting when it springs from the affective domain of the learner. Specific strategy models to facilitate the release of the learner's affective domain are suggested. (CLK)