Two different projects in ESL training for immigrant workers, one for a garment company and one for metal workers in a turbine plant, are described and compared. The programs were for Indochinese and Eastern Europeans, respectively, and involved no unions. Extensive preparation made both programs expensive. (MSE)

Describes a two-semester course held at a French college for a group of Saudi student technicians with the objective of providing both general communication skills in the French language and technical skills. Discusses evaluation instruments, including systematic interviews with students, and their impact on the learning rate. (MES)

Considers whether college foreign language programs are truly victims of outside forces or have neglected taking responsibility for their fate. Explores the internal status of the language and literature curricula, public perceptions of them, how institutions have tried to "solve" language department problems by restructuring them, and how…

Overviews the most recently published or revised version of North American second-year Italian textbooks. Notes that each of the six textbooks reviewed provides sound pedagogical materials designed to enhance instruction. (55 references) (CK)

Describes curricular changes in a private Japanese university's English department, and explores the curricula typical of such programs. The new program's three major features, including a freshman English program, a content study, and graduation papers and theses are highlighted. (12 references) (Author/CB)

Classroom observation of 13 college language courses and analysis of student questionnaire and teacher interview responses indicated that teachers varied widely in use of target language with a mean of 67.9 percent; language type, departmental policy, lesson content, and teacher training affected target language use; and students were generally…

A survey of native Arabic speaking students in the Department of English at Yarmouck University revealed their dissatisfaction with their proficiency level, the study plan, the lack of emphasis on language in literature classes, and the failure of literature classes to help them master syntax, morphology, and phonetic complexities. (CB)

Provides a reference base for teachers concerned with problems and issues of teaching foreign languages to Afro-American students in the United States. Cites 51 journal articles, unpublished documents, and doctoral dissertations that discuss rationales for foreign language study by Black students and describe teaching strategies and curriculum…

The development and use of two programs developed at Loyola College using HyperCard are described. One is a reading comprehension program of a Renaissance Italian text; the other, in German, uses scanned-in maps of the various stages of German political development to illustrate German history. (21 references) (LB)

A study investigated factors that facilitate innovation in intensive English programs at 43 universities, based on administrators' perceptions. Results indicate program aspects felt to influence innovation, successfully implemented innovations, and perceived qualities of innovative policies and practices. A complex set of variables emerged. (MSE)

The 1987-89 survey represents the Modern Language Association's first effort to collect information from the stratified random sample of foreign language programs established in 1988. Topics include requirements, faculty characteristics, language coordinator functions, faculty role in governance, curricula, course offerings, enrollment, numbers of…

A French curriculum development and research project at Erindale College (Canada), established in 1985, studies and initiates incorporation of computer technology into the University of Toronto French program. Specific objectives include evaluation and adaptation of existing software, development of an undergraduate course in computer applications…

Findings from the Modern Language Association survey, based on returns from 598 2- and 4-year colleges, are reported. Factors affecting department chairs' conditions of service and perquisites were found to be the presence of a union; levels of instruction offered; number of students; number of languages offered; and faculty size. (Contains two…

Internationalization of the higher education curriculum and internationalization of campus life are discussed with regard to ways that foreign languages can respond to the call for internationalization; content for advanced language courses; the role of language teaching and culture specialists (LTCSs); and preparation of LTCSs. (46 references)…

New video technologies available for French second-language instruction are reviewed, and their incorporation into a Pennsylvania State University third-semester French course is described. Issues discussed include considerations of media availability, authentic vs. contrived video, second-language acquisition theory, and curricular goals and…