This article discusses principles involved in developing course materials for technology-mediated Chinese language learning, with examples from a new course designed to take into account the needs of distance and independent learners. Which learning environment is most efficient for a given learning activity needs to be carefully considered. It…

Discusses the need to take enough time to properly teach second-language students grammatical rules and outlines major points in a first-year Spanish curriculum that stresses reviewing grammatical concepts throughout the four semesters. (18 references) (GLR)

Contends that German film has had uncinematic handling in American universities. Presents alternative approach and counter proposal surveying crucial highlights of Germany's film heritage. (BK)

The assessment of student writing is an essential task for writing teachers, and yet many graduate programs do not require students to take a course in assessment or evaluation, and courses on teaching writing often devote only a limited amount of time to the discussion of assessment. Furthermore, teachers frequently need to prepare their students…

Describes departmental core program in Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics at University of Maryland Baltimore County based on linguistic and semiotic theory stressing global perspective. Program includes upper level course to prepare students for literary analysis. (BK)

Describes the development of an intensive four-day course at the University of Southampton to teach French to cross-Channel ferry crews. Each day of the course was divided into the following six contact hours: reading and pronunciation practice; formal grammar revision; two hours of "hostess-passenger" dialogs; "open-ended"…

A teaching method is described and illustrated that begins with the presentation of a basic dialogue containing new learning material and progresses to the group's acting out its own dialogues and discussing them with the class. The objective is to lead learners from understanding new material to using it creatively and, ultimately, for their own…

A computerized card game using 10 topics of French civilization and culture and four of language instruction is briefly outlined. The successful use of the game in class led to local and statewide competitions. (MSE)

Discusses the lack of applications of simulations to the study of English for academic purposes. Advocates a "looser" syllabus design which combines knowledge about learning objectives, organization of material, and methodology yet allows for students' needs and ways of learning. (SED)

The role of the syllabus in second language teaching is described, distinguishing six major types of syllabi and how they might be implemented in various teaching situations. The foreign language teaching syllabus involves both the integration of subject matter (what to talk about) and linguistic matter (how to talk about it). Choices of syllabi…

The design, materials, and content of a college-level course in the civilization of Quebec Province are described. The course covers aspects of the culture, including politics, and emphasizes oral skills for the discussion of issues. (MSE)

One university professor's use of French comic strips as the focus of an advanced, intensive language course is described. The approach addresses the visual and iconic in the comics as much as the linguistic element. (27 references) (MSE)

A French immersion program in Brazil took a group of adults to a mountain retreat for a weekend of intensive language use through fantasy scenarios. (MSE)

A course in advanced English as a second language that focused on the writing of formal research papers revealed that even students who had chosen personally interesting topics and were able to organize facts and present them well still had difficulty. They had problems beginning and ending their papers, they approached their topics warily, and…

The structure of a course designed to teach oral communicative competence is outlined, and the approach to evaluation is discussed. Evaluation includes both a criterion test and a specific oral task that students must accomplish. (MSE)