Two small-scale studies of foreign language test validity are reviewed. The teacher variable is found to be the great threat to test validity, even when grammatical material is presented in the language laboratory. Suggestions for compensating for teacher influence are offered. (JB)

A correspondence course in English developed in Finland based on the use of portable cassette tape recorders is described. (RM)

This course blueprint was first drawn up in 1968 and was later coordinated by the Department of Russian at Birmingham University. Problems of self-instructional courses, details of a particular Russian course and why it had to be changed, and possible improvements for similar course are given. (SC)

Two areas in which language laboratory programs can be improved--training teachers in nonverbal aspects of communication and maintenance of an adequate supply of taped materials--are discussed. (RM)

An investigation was carried out in Sweden to examine language laboratory use. The degree of use, equipment function, method of use, access to lab programs, instruction to teachers on use, teachers' and pupils' attitudes and difficulties were studied by means of questionnaires. Improvement suggestions are made. (CHK)

A report on an intensive training program on language laboratory use for English teachers in Israel. The course devotes itself to "problems and principals": lab conditions, drills, testing, etc., to "materials": speaking, structure, etc. and to a technical workshop: recording, editing, etc. (SC)

Presenting minimal pairs in context to the student of English as a foreign language requires him to discriminate between two phonemes that may sound the same. Methodology for student exercises with minimal sentences is presented. (SW)

Video programs have proven more successful for oral proficiency than traditional conversation in English language courses at Stockholm University. Video provides verbal and non-verbal forms of communication and a variety of life-like situations. It also raises students' attention and provides a model for students to imitate. (SC)

The injection of conversation/discussion sessions into English language laboratory exercises could help to achieve the major objective of teaching English as a foreign language--helping the learner to express himself in English. Steps in developing the method are outlined. (SW)

Explains that the speech compressor/expander is a piece of electronic equipment useful in second language learning laboratories. Considering the relationship between technology and its use as an aid in achieving fluency in comprehension, the theory of rate alteration in second language learning is supported as a viable tool to enhance any…

Describes a nine-stage approach, involving a slide program and the language lab, that puts students in authentic situations and provides them with an alternative series of protocols, verbal strategies, and syntactic transactions. (Author/RM)

Possibilities opened by video in the theory and practice of foreign language teaching are suggested. Among the advantages are: observation of mouth movements is important to articulation; gestures and facial expressions are an important part of communication; and language presented in social contexts can show socio-linguistic conventions. (SW)

Discusses the outcomes of an investigation into the motives and appreciation of autonomous language learners among students and staff of the Department of Individual Foreign Language Studies at the University of Amsterdam. The results showed so much variety that any conclusions or correlations were hard to make. (Author/SED)

Describes a pilot scheme designed to help teachers and students to solve some of the problems inherent in teaching a foreign language (in this case, French) to a group of students of different levels. The course makes extensive use of language laboratory and peer group teaching. (Author/CB)