Research has indicated that the elderly retain the ability to learn, and specifically to learn new languages. Furthermore, the increasingly greater proportion of old people in the population demands that their need for continued intellectual stimulation be met. In the absence of explicit motives for learning an ethnic language, Esperanto is a good…

The construction of tests of oral competence in a foreign language requires consideration of several factors. The face validity of the test, or the degree to which students feel they are performing a real communicative act, is illustrated with a number of model testing situations. Content validity, or the ability of a test to measure what has been…

This study was conducted to investigate what and how much is presented about American culture in English courses in Japan. A review of previous studies on the same subject indicates that only textbooks for conversation courses are likely to contain substantial cultural information. For the present study, ten series of senior high school English…

This guide provides information on the Lao language and alphabet for teachers of English to ethnic Lao refugees. Twenty-seven English pronunciation lessons dealing with the particular problems of Lao speakers learning English are included. Lao words are written in a phonetic Roman alphabet. An annotated bibliography of resources is appended. (JB)

This introduction to the pedagogy of reading comprehension in a second language focuses on learning strategies appropriate to achieving reading competence. Lexical strategies can be fostered by tolerating local errors and encouraging practice in the identification of specific features such as tense, part of speech, and cognation. Tasks that…

Four articles report on the effectiveness of suggestive methods in foreign language instruction. Ray Benitez-Bordon reports on "Foreign Languaqe Learning via the Lozanov Method: Pilot Studies." Results of the two studies indicate great promise for the suggestive approach, and point to the needs for further research. In "The Sandy…

Five papers are presented that deal with the theory and methodology of suggestive learning. The psychological basis of suggestopedia and its application to language instruction are outlined by Gabriel Racle in "The Key Principles of Suggestopedia." An outline of the organization of a classical suggestopedic language course is appended to…

Eight reports are presented that examine some of the applications of the suggestive approach to classroom instruction: (1) "Discovering the Lozanov Method," by W. Jane Bancroft; (2) "Introduction to the Lozanov Method," by Donald H. Schuster; (3) Lozanov-type Suggestion Techniques for Remedial Reading," by Allyn Prichard;…

The following articles appear in this issue of a journal devoted to teaching English for science and technology in Kuwait: (1) "An Approach to the Implementation of Dr. J.L. Munby's 'Communicative Syllabus Design'" by Bill Robinson, (2) "Une experience d'elaboration de materiel pedagogique" (An Experiment in Developing Teaching…

Intensive foreign language courses are discussed in terms of historical background, categorization of types, definition of components of intensive instruction as practiced at present in academic settings, and advantages and special problems of intensive instruction. Practical considerations for the implementation of intensive options cover the…

This annotated bibliography on the teaching of modern foreign languages is the product of a West German information dissemination system that is similar to ERIC. The bibliography is published quarterly and lists items compiled in conjunction with the ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics as well as with a number of institutions all over…

This French phrasebook is intended as a guide to pronunciation and useful words and phrases. All entries are given first in English, followed by the French word in simplified English phonetic spelling, with the French spelling in parentheses. The "Useful Words and Phrases," dealing with subjects such as directions, greetings, numbers, and…

This Turkish phrasebook is intended as a guide to pronunciation and useful words and phrases. All entries are given first in English, followed by the Turkish word in simplified English phonetic spelling, with the Turkish spelling in parentheses. The "Useful Words and Phrases," dealing with subjects such as directions, greetings, numbers and…

This Italian phrasebook is intended as a guide to pronunciation and useful words and phrases. All entries are given first in English, followed by the Italian word in simplified English phonetic spelling, with the Italian spelling in parentheses. The "Useful Words and Phrases," dealing with subjects such as directions, greetings, numbers, and…

This Russian language guide is of assistance in carrying on simple conversations in Russian and is used in conjunction with records. Russian ranks after Chinese and English as the third most widespread language in the world. All the words and phrases are written in a simplified spelling which is read like English. Useful words and phrases include…