Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using computer programs in foreign language instruction and what factors to consider in choosing quality software programs that are relevant to the school's educational criteria and the needs of the students. These factors include computer talents, program style, and program personality. (SED)

Presents guidelines for creating a language center newsletter. These include detailed planning, budgeting, defining your mission and its audience, projecting your image, dividing duties, finding people to work on your newsletter, adhering to a production schedule, careful editing, conducting interviews to gather information for stories, and…

Suggests that performance tests as currently represented in the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)-Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) may not adequately address the basic concerns brought about by the perceived shortcomings of academic second language programs. Supports this argument with a critical analysis of the ACTFL…

The phrase "software design" is not one that arouses the interest of many CALL practitioners, particularly those from a humanities background. However, software design essentials are simply logical ways of going about designing a system. The fundamentals include modularity, anticipation of change, generality and an incremental approach. While CALL…

The research deals with the analysis of efficiency of the process of teaching and learning with use of the social dimension of Web 2.0 within the English for Specific Purposes course in pre-school and primary teacher education that would help students to become more cognizant and more responsive to the emerging needs of the market for educational…

This dissertation reports development and validation studies of a Web-based standardized test of Japanese as a foreign language (JFL), designed to measure learners' off-line grammatical and pragmatic knowledge in multiple-choice format. Targeting Japanese majors in the U.S. universities and colleges, the test is designed to explore possible…

This study explores the available cross-national data and national policies on early childhood education and care (later--ECEC) in Europe. Early childhood education and care in this study refers to publicly subsidised and accredited provision for children under compulsory school age. "Education" and "care" are combined in the…

The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act has made a great impact on states' policies in assessing English language learner (ELL) students. The legislation requires states to develop or adopt sound assessments in order to validly measure the ELL students' English language proficiency (ELP), as well as content knowledge and skills. Although states have…

In May 2006, a group of experts in language education from Europe, Canada and Israel gathered to discuss and reflect in a conference entitled: "Into the Future--Towards Bilingual Education in Israel." The conference, held at the University of Haifa, was initiated and organized by the Jewish-Arab Center and sponsored by the Zeit Stiftung…

Author described some of the techniques she used for teaching French at Roosevelt Junior High School, West Palm Beach. She also explained how these techniques helped students to maintain an early desire to learn a foreign language. (Author/RK)

Presents a framework for examining culture in an English-as-a-Second-language instructional context. An explanation of the rationale behind the framework is followed by a description of the way the framework was applied to Language Instruction for Newcomers (LINC) curriculum guides to test its usability as an analytical tool. (Author/VWL)

Discusses a conceptual framework outlining what is known about language development and metalinguistics, and considers ways in which this may provide a reference framework to guide the work of the various committees responsible for developing the language curriculum. The example of the curriculum in Ireland is used to explore the practical…

Suggests that the Australian Language Levels (ALL Guidelines should combine the sociocultural goals with the concept of cultural awareness and integrate them with the concept of intercultural goals at all stages of language learning. (Author/VWL)

Looks at the controversial position of grammar in writing methodology and attempts to lay out a number of guidelines for the inclusion of grammar in composition classes specifically intended for English-as-a-Foreign-Language, rather than English-as-a-Second-Language contexts. (Author/VWL)

Describes an instructional model that promotes students' mastery of academic subject matter and language skills and develops respectful camaraderie between English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and non-ESL instructors. (Author/VWL)