The Common Curriculum Framework for International Languages, Six-Year Program (Grade 7 to Grade 12), including this Alberta version of it, was developed through the cooperative efforts of the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. This framework provides a 6-year program for foreign language courses from middle school through high…

This paper offers a series of practical, useful tips for creating lessons for adult English language learners (ELLs). It begins by offering seven questions to help the teacher think through the lesson ahead of time. It also provides tips for creating a general lesson plan, and tips for tapping the four language modes: speaking, listening, reading,…

This paper helps mainstream teachers and administrators demystify English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) education, providing techniques to help immigrant students make sense of English and their new culture. Ten chapters examine the following: (1) "We're Moving to Where?" (how it feels to move to a totally alien environment); (2) "The Essence and…

Presents data on the impact of oral and silent reading on reading comprehension. Hypothesizes that reading comprehension is enhanced significantly by silent, rather than oral reading, and that re-reading is an effective mode for increasing comprehension in either mode. (EKN)

Describes oral tests for different teaching levels that can be used by regular classroom teachers with normal size classes. At the beginning levels, oral assessment is done through role playing or "talk cards," and at the advanced levels, an oral interview is the major part of a mixed skill task. (EKN)

Describes how to plan a weekend foreign language workshop in terms of facilities, students, staff, and budget. Gives a possible schedule and suggests various activities and games. (EKN)

The article offers a theoretical framework including a brief review of the literature on the importance of attitudes and second language learning, bilingualism and cognition, and bilingualism and language acquisition. Based on this theoretical framework, an integrated bilingual kindergarten curriculum model is presented. (NQ)

Discusses the various functions of grammar in second-language (SL) education, and examines the relationship between discourse and grammar in SL education. Two problems are then examined concerning the relationship between discourse and grammar within grammatical exercises, and with the help of concrete examples, suggestions are offered to better…

Discusses techniques for teaching descriptive adjectives in second-language classrooms that rely on humor to help relieve the stress of learning situations. Specific examples of Spanish adjectives and humorous phrases are provided. (contains two references) (MDM)

A brief description of the English-language proficiency level expected of ninth-grade Israeli students introduces a tabular guide to various English readers, along with their basic vocabulary ranges. (LB)

Describes characteristics of learning disabled (LD) college students, noting pedagogical assumptions of foreign language (FL) faculty that make it difficult for such students to complete FL requirements. The paper lists strategies that address the needs of LD students in FL, proposing a systems approach to instructional design that could help in…

Proposes an interactive model of vocabulary acquisition that accounts for acquisition of knowledge and the mental processes involved in vocabulary acquisition, emphasizing the characterization of mental processes more than any other aspects. The model, which can account for first or second languages, attempts to capture how vocabulary is…

Examines aspects of learning Cantonese by English speakers in Hong Kong. Particular focus is on the effectiveness of the instructional materials currently on offer. (Author/VWL)

As part of the school reform legislation of 1985, the Illinois State Board of Education established State Goals for Learning in six fundamental learning areas: language arts, mathematics, science, social science, fine arts, and physical development and health. The next step is to develop standards that will more clearly define the knowledge and…

The ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) Performance Guidelines for K-12 Learners expand on the second language proficiency guidelines established in 1982 by focusing on second language use by students who participate in elementary, middle, and high school foreign language programs. Unlike adult language users, K-12…