This paper discusses the problem of providing language practice for foreign language students that is meaningful and communicative as well as structured sufficiently to give practice toward functional command of basic grammatical components. A brief review of the communicative status of drills is presented, along with a technique designed to bring…

The pattern drill used in language instruction, termed the "schmattern drill" in this article, is severely criticized for depriving students of meaningful communication opportunities. Methods of alleviating student boredom through the extension of and variation in pattern drill design are illustrated by examples of contrasting "schmattern" and…