There are cognitive, social, personal, and practical reasons for studying a second language, and the syllabus is shaped by these and the identity of the learners, general and specific course objectives, educational principles, course components, learner input, and student evaluation procedures. A dynamic syllabus addresses four language competence…

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)

The dilemma for instructors of advanced second language conversation courses is how to create a situation in which learners feel confident and at ease but, at the same time, feel engaged and challenged. syllabus can be designed to accommodate learner needs and preferences by allowing students to generate their own overall course goals and…

A strategy for teaching reading in college preparation courses of English as a second language that attempts to help students achieve reading independence, is presented. Skills of independent, flexible reading are outlined and a taxonomy of skill types (passive, active, and synthetic) and levels (mechanical, knowledge, transfer, response, and…

This paper proposes and describes a method of developing a special-purpose foreign language culture course providing cross-cultural training for professionals working in bilingual and bicultural settings. The following points are discussed: (1) ways of ascertaining the need for and the most appropriate type of cross-cultural training; (2)…

The Spanish Intensive Courses sequence at the University of South Carolina, first offered in fall 1982, has become well received and highly visible in the university. The sequence has grown to three courses in fall 1983, all exceeding minimum enrollment requirements despite selective admission criteria. The success of the sequence has inspired the…

A discussion of block scheduling for second language instruction looks at the advantages and disadvantages and offers some suggestions for classroom management and course organization. It is argued that block scheduling may offer a potential solution to large classes, insufficient time for labs, too little individualized instruction; few…

The teacher's guide for the required curriculum in French as a second language for all elementary English schools in Quebec is presented. An introductory section outlines the program structure, articulation with secondary level programs, the framework for presentation of the terminal objectives within the curriculum, and use of the objectives…

The guide is designed to orient volunteers teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) overseas to the experience of teaching in this context and the processes of preparing for teaching and addressing classroom issues. An introductory chapter looks at the typical volunteer teaching environment and previews the guide's content. Chapters 1-6 focus…

Descriptive information and supporting documents for courses taught in the language center of a school of mines are presented here. The first is a four-semester engineering practices introductory course sequence that incorporates professional-level technical problem-solving, cooperative learning, and the preparation of written and oral…

A study of second language instruction for vocational purposes in Scotland is reported. It used case studies to investigate: (1) teaching approaches currently used; (2) assessment of foreign language skills for vocational purposes; (3) evidence of the effectiveness of different teaching approaches; and (4) approaches considered most effective by…

The organization and curriculum of the French graduate business schools, the 16 regional Ecoles Superieures de Commerce et d'Administration des Entreprises, has much to offer for pedagogical development in United States business administration education. The schools parallel the university system but provide a more narrowly focused,…

The outline for a college-level education course on bilingual education and English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction is presented. Emphasis is placed on principles of dual language instruction and the Texas state education agency's plan for these areas of instruction. Major areas covered include language development, language learning…

The collection of papers on course design includes reports of teaching practice and classroom research by teachers of English as a second language. Papers include: "Teacher Researchers: Perspectives on Teacher Action Research and Curriculum Renewal" (Anne Burns); "From Curriculum to Courses: Why Do Teachers Do What They Do?" (Susan Hood); "The…

The text and accompanying workbook are designed to help second language teachers explore theories of language teaching and learning, deriving a set of hypothesized principles for classroom teaching based on the concept of proficiency and suggesting classroom techniques using them. The first two chapters outline and expand on both theoretical and…