Teaching functional French is discussed with instructors of groups of foreign workers in mind. It takes as its starting point two "modules" for teaching French ("the highway code at driving school" and "starting and keeping small talk going") and uses them to exemplify some of the difficulties involved in the development and classroom use of…

This study attempts to demonstrate that the choice of material on the thematic and situational level has a bearing on linguistic concepts. The critique is divided into three main sections dealing with: (1) themes and situations, or the world view of audio-visual methods; (2) themes and situations in a particular text, "C'est le printemps;" and (3)…

This course guide for a teacher education program takes a modular approach to the training of teachers for Spanish-S programs in bilingual elementary schools. Each of the four modules presents a number of tasks for the student to accomplish, and provides a list of resources to assist the student. The modules cover the following topics: (1)…

This annotated reading list addresses the problem of the paucity of literature dealing specifically with the relationship between personality and language learning. There is no general theoretical model that encompasses personality theory, self-concept, ego development, learning theory, motivation, and body image as they relate to…

The articles included in these proceedings are presented in order to give some insight into the meaning and scope of bilingualism and bilingual education. The volume is divided into sections respresenting the following five areas of concern in bilingual education: philosophy, legal aspects, language and linguistics, culture, and techniques and…

This paper discusses some major theories of social and educational change (e.g., evolutionary theory, structural functional theory, systems theory, group conflict theory, and cultural revival and social movement theory), and delineates the identification and interpretation of variables relevant to an understanding of bilingual education within the…

One of the main tenets of the audio-lingual theory which has dominated most of our thinking in foreign language teaching methodology for the last fifteen years is that students should never be put in the situation of having to say something for which they have not already learned the patterns. Is the language laboratory really useful, however, in…

This paper gives practical suggestions for the ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher who must prepare adult foreign students for academic life in the United States. The paper is based on activities carried out at the English Language Institute of the University of Pittsburgh. It is divided into three sections, according to language skills:…

This chapter explains the rationale and design of a communicative English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) course using a mock nongovernmental organization (NGO) forum simulation to encourage students to investigate global issues. Cooperative learning and global education share several common goals: cooperation, interdependence, mutual understanding,…

The report details the Irish portion of an experiment in tandem language learning by electronic mail (e-mail). The partners were Trinity College, Dublin (Ireland) and Ruhr University, Bochum (Germany), funded by the European Union within the International E-Mail Tandem Network as part of a two-year project. Tandem language learning is a form of…

Reports on a multivariate study that examined the contribution of two independent variables--cognitive/academic proficiency in first language and attitudes and motivation toward English as a foreign language--on success in English as a foreign language in culturally different learners. (27 references) (Author/OD)

In a question-and-answer format, the guide responds to common queries about bilingualism in children. The first section poses and answers questions about family issues and bilingualism, including family communication, support of language development, cultural and social context for language development, social integration, and parent language…

A study investigated how students of English as a second language (ESL) improved their use of learning strategies through awareness-raising in group interviews and informal training. Subjects were 68 Taiwanese university students in two freshman English classes. Subjects responded to an English learning strategy questionnaire in the beginning and…

This textbook is designed for use by Peace Corps volunteers learning Turkmen in preparation for serving in Turkmenistan. It takes a competency-based approach to language learning, focusing on specific tasks the learner will need to accomplish through language. Some competencies are related to work tasks and others to survival needs or social…

Designed to be used as complementary instructional material for American students as well as second-generation Iranians in America, this work presents a collection of material for teaching Persian language and culture. Research and analysis of some relevant linguistic issues, interactive methodology of language teaching and acquisition, and models…