Individualized reading and writing tasks are suggested for use in a functional approach to teaching English as a second language. The tasks, each of which has a product, an audience, a function, and a linguistic focus, are based on students' communicative needs in various situations. Individualization promotes language learning. (PMJ)

Describes the procedure for conducting a ten-week project for the foreign language classroom that involves group participation: the dubbing of shortened American films using students' voices. (EJS)

Language games, adapted to the age of the learners, are seen as a powerful means of motivation. Several such games are described; language phenomena contained therein are discussed. Finally, some available collections of language games are listed. (IFS/WGA)

A simulation game for a Spanish classroom provided each team with a fictitious profile of a Spanish-speaking person. Students made decisions for the characters regarding school, career, leisure activities and family. Slides and films on Spanish-Americans were shown. (CHK)

Discusses class activities that create artificial environments to facilitate students' learning about the cultural life of the country whose language they are studying, in this case, Spanish. Such activities include taking pictures of fictional wedding parties, using current Mexican newspapers to shop for the bride and groom, and attendance at the…

Discusses alternative assessment in the language classroom, provides examples of seven cooperative assessment activities: correcting individual quizzes and homework, observing students at work, interviews, peer composition, oral presentations, group projects, and group processing. (Author/VWL)

Discusses reasons for teaching international business ethics and suggests several classroom applications. (Author/VWL)

Highlights a webquest, or an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet. Highlights the structure of a webquest, discusses producing a webquest, and provides sample webquests. (Author/VWL)

A classroom exercise is described that simulates the everyday interactions within a French apartment house. The cultural, linguistic, and affective benefits of the activity are discussed. (MSE)

Describes a seven-day vocabulary building unit for language deficient high school students that revolved around ice cream, fat content of foods, and heart disease. (RS)

Ways are outlined to help students read their textbooks and do homework exercises effectively, know when they really understand the material, pinpoint what they do not understand, and know when they need help. Suggestions are offered for incorporating student training and practice in study strategies. A sample worksheet is appended. (25…

A lively classroom activity is described in which high school students, each receiving a word-card, generate their own sentences in German by combining their own word with the previous student's word. The cards, with words taken from the textbook vocabulary, encourage active, spontaneous utterances within the structure and logical sequence of the…

Suggestions are offered for involving advanced Spanish-language students more directly in watching and making later use of videotapes. Steps include preparing students to watch the videos, writing a survey on the video topic, and creating a computerized class newsletter. (LB)

After a brief discussion of discovery writing, several types of writing activities are suggested that can enhance learning and critical thinking. They include free writes, journals, electronic dialogue, collaborative writing assignments, and class newsletters. (LB)

Contrasting traditional with present-day views of language learners, discussion focuses on aspects of the so-called communicative revolution. The present-day view includes negotiating the materials and seeing learners as knowers, testers, communicators, and evaluators. A suggested reading activity involves comparing two slightly differing texts.…