Humanistic education, basing much of its theory on data provided by subjective experiences, is an attempt to create new perceptual systems for understanding human beings and to make these processes available in educational settings. Humanistic education is surveyed, with the view that its component branches are organized bodies of knowledge, each…

This collection of more than 30 activities is designed to provide the second language teacher with practical ideas for creating a more person-centered, communicative environment in the classroom. Any environment that human beings create is a product of their expectations. The expectations that students and teachers have for each other in many…

This study of the linguistic acts of assenting and confirming is inspired by an attempt to create instructional materials for the learning of spoken English as a second language, with communicative competence as a goal. Observations are based on several hours of informal conversation between native speakers of English, mostly students and…

This article considers the function and choice of visual aids in the teaching of languages in the light of recent work on communicative competence. An analysis of cartoons, comic strips, and television drama demonstrates that authentic verbo-visual communication consists of a network of interactions between visual and verbal information. This…

This article discusses the various linguistic and psychological theories from which language teaching has drawn, and their application in certain instructional materials. (CFM)

When analyzing data concerning interlanguage variation and discourse domain, it appears that learners may exhibit more control in their work-domain than in their life-story domain. Data were collected on the Dutch-French interlanguage of two university economics students to investigate the relation of domain to variation in utterances. (Author/…

Describes some features of French business correspondence that contrast sharply with that of the American equivalent. Provides a sample syllabus for a commercial French course and lists sample vocabulary and phrases useful in business correspondence. (LMO)

Learner needs in English for academic purposes were analyzed in terms of the strategic competence needed to successfully carry out required work in an undergraduate physics laboratory, including: evaluating and selecting information; synthesizing information; applying information to different situations; and establishing working relationships with…

Describes a pilot program designed to offer a curriculum for students interested in beginning the study of a foreign language as part of their preparation for international professions (engineering, business, sciences, etc.). Through interviews with representatives of international business, banking, and government agencies who have served abroad,…

This collection of articles includes the following: "Second Language Acquisition Research and Applied Linguistics" (Teresa Pica); "'Communicative Lingerings': An Exploratory Study of the Experience of 'Foreign' Communicative Features in the Interactions of American Expatriates after Reentry" (Laura Sicola); "Acquiring…

This paper discusses the importance in Korea of learning to speak English proficiently, and describes a 16-week course designed to advance such proficiency. The paper begins with a general description of the importance of English in the curriculum of Korean higher education, and how important it is to obtain and keep professional employment, which…

The materials describe Kentucky's strategy for reforming the state standards for introductory Spanish second language instruction. They begin with a course description outlining the shift in orientation from grammar instruction to development of communicative competence. A subsequent section suggests ways in which the teacher might identify…

The strategic and indirect use of language in academic discussions poses particular difficulties to non-native speakers of English. In order for English language teachers to address the needs of non-native speakers in this area, descriptions of how language is used by proficient speakers of English in academic discussions are required. This paper…

Argues that adult learners develop strategies to suit their own learning styles. Points out that the goal of communicative language programs is communicative competence, that is, second-language learners are expected to acquire pragmatic, functional language by using it in meaningful and unrehearsed ways. (nine references) (Author/CK)

Reviews the literature on the characteristics of the good language learner and language teacher, showing those traits contributing to effective language learning as well as literature outlining practices and activities contributing to the development of a good language teacher. Includes an activity performance checklist. (14 references) (Author/CK)