Argues that discussion of the role of English in development fails to recognize the success of narrowly focused community-based projects, in which basic first language literacy rather than English education is the goal. (Author/VWL)

Reports on a community-based teacher education project in which preservice English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) teachers developed language curricula for a Latino community in the United States. Shows how many of the issues that characterize language in development work in poor countries also affect ESL instruction in the United States and other…

THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER TRAINING--TOTAL CULTURAL IMMERSION--IS ACHIEVED THROUGH DIRECT TEACHING AND FIELD EXPERIENCE. TRAINEES LEARN LANGUAGE (THROUGH INTENSIVE AUDIOLINGUAL METHODS, BRINGING LANGUAGE LEARNING INTO EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE AT THE TRAINING SITE), CUSTOMS (THROUGH ROLE PLAYING AND CROSS CULTURAL STUDIES), AND…