There are many indications that campuses consider the improvement of international education to be of paramount importance. Proposals reflect an interest in an infusion of international perspectives into curricula, the enhancement of competencies for business and teaching, and instruction in foreign languages. (MLW)

This report by the American Association of Community Colleges summarizes the results of a nationwide year-long study on foreign language education. Programs, called Improving Foreign Language Education projects at Community Colleges, were implemented at a total of 36 American colleges to enact proposed changes in curriculum and foreign language…

Integration of extracurricular activities into the second language curriculum is supported in the context of culturally oriented communicative second language teaching. After methodological approaches in the literature are analyzed, various extracurricular program provided at the University of Toronto are described. (MSE)

The design and content of a required, fourth-year course in Soviet culture are proposed. The course has three distinguishing characteristics: basis in a broader, social sciences definition of culture; the Soviet Union as a frame of reference; and instruction in Russian. Its objectives are both cultural knowledge and language proficiency. (MSE)

The trend toward incorporating traditional social sciences materials into foreign language coursework, in order to increase enrollment, is explained and discussed. Controversy centers on trading aesthetic appreciations of foreign literature for course content on social and cultural issues. (MSE)

Offers a general review of videotape in supervising foreign language teaching assistants and describes in detail the method adopted by the University of California at Davis. Describes this method as a three-person videofeedback model involving a teaching assistant, a TA supervisor, and a video analyst. (MES)

Presents an overview of the Dutch language instruction situation in universities outside of the Netherlands and Belgium, touching upon teacher statistics, students' reasons for studying Dutch, materials available for the study of the Dutch language and culture, and certification programs. (AM)

Describes the experiences of one instructor in designing and implementing a short course in scientific French for upper level students majoring in applied biology at Glasgow College. Materials used and aspects of scientific language chosen are briefly discussed. (LMO)

Describes the components, course objectives, texts and materials, and structure and assignment of The American University's translation course, which hones students' foreign language competence through its focus on the short-term goal of attention to subtleties of meaning in the foreign language and nuance of expression in English. (CB)

A survey of 130 beginning French students at the University of Windsor (Canada) focused on their second language aspirations, expectations, and anticipated needs. Interpersonal relations appear to be the primary motivator, with travel and instrumental motivation secondary. (20 references) (Author/MSE)

Examines the effects of written retelling on ESL (English-as-a- Second-Language) students' writing skills. Suggests that written retelling can help ESL students build their linguistic foundations, learn about mainstream culture, and develop awareness of conventional English rhetorical structures. Indicates that written retelling improved student…

The predicament of foreign languages in a liberal arts setting is addressed. It is suggested that bilingual language competency cannot be realized without an extraordinary increase in foreign language instruction and second-culture instruction: an extra year of undergraduate study combined with study abroad. (32 references) (LB)

Twenty figures and tables illustrate the findings of the Modern Language Association's survey of doctoral graduate placements. Areas covered include PhD degrees granted, placement of 1991-92 PhDs, changes through time, and placement for individual degree programs. (three references) (LB)

Describes the role of the community college in providing practical foreign language programs geared toward the needs of the business and emergency services communities rather than those of academia. Indicates that students need opportunities to develop sophisticated communicative abilities systematically in a short period of time. (MAB)

Describes a university's experimental task-based French program that successfully integrated foreign language learning more fully with the learning of interpersonal skills and nonlinguistic content, although some language skills, especially those needed for advanced written language and translation, appeared to suffer. (14 references) (Author/CB)