A 1984 survey of 830 students at 3 private colleges in Sapporo, Japan investigated perceptions of non-Japanese language teachers as role models (persons who are not actively seeking to alter the behavior of those around them) and social change agents (persons who actively attempt to initiate or serve as a catalyst in community improvement). The…

A discussion of second language program evaluation is intended for staff (teachers, program planners, materials writers, program managers) of programs being evaluated, to help them understand the process and dynamics of program evaluation. It addresses common concerns and fears about evaluation, offers ways in which staff can cooperate with…

It is proposed that the training of teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) who anticipate long careers in the field should include a program management training component in addition to traditional pedagogical components. In this approach, management of an ESL program is conceptualized as human resource management, including physical…

A teacher's experiences in teaching French to mixed-ability fourth- and fifth-graders have contributed to the development of an instructional approach that meets the challenges of this age group. The method devotes two-thirds of instructional time to language and one-third to culture. All language activities are conducted in French, and cultural…

The National Core French Study had the objectives of defining and developing four syllabuses and assessing their applicability in Core French classes in Canadian elementary and secondary schools. The language syllabus presented here is an inventory of the principal language units that the student must acquire to communicate in French in natural…

A description is provided of foreign language and related cultural education (English, French, and German) in Denmark since the 1950s. The first section gives an overview of the development of Danish society in general since the second world war, and more specifically, of developments in foreign language teaching. The second section briefly…

This study investigated factors related to the implementation of the New York State curriculum for English as a Second Language (ESL) in secondary schools. It was hypothesized that three variable sets would relate to the implementation of the curriculum: the nature of the assistance provided the teacher (principal's support and inservice…

The Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) of 1986 mandates that applicants for permanent residency either demonstrate minimal understanding of ordinary English and a knowledge and understanding of the history and government of the United States, or show that they are satisfactorily pursuing a course of study recognized by the U.S. Attorney…

In spring 1988, 103 bilingual/English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and ESL-only school districts in New Jersey participated in a study to establish norms for the Language Assessment Battery (LAB) and Maculaitis Assessment Program (MAC) in grades K-12. This manual is designed to provide local district staff with the study's results and to make…

Project Work is increasingly being used in In-service Teacher Education courses for English-as-a-foreign-language teachers for the purposes of both language improvement and learning about English language teaching. At the Institute for English Language Education, Lancaster University, the intended purpose of Project Work is primarily the latter.…

The commonalities between the teaching of writing and the teaching of English as a Second Language (ESL) are discussed. With common instructional practices of iterativeness, contextualization, and cognition delineated between the two fields, four levels of literacy for ESL students are specified. Four levels of ability are distinguished,…

As a followup to the 1979 report by the President's Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies, "Strength Through Wisdom," a study was conducted to learn what progress has been made toward improving international knowledge among Americans. State foreign language supervisors and others responsible for international education…

Developing literacy in adults who speak English as a second language (ESL) means more than rote memorization of letters and sounds, because literacy implies a familiarity with the language and culture sufficient for comfortable interaction and communication of ideas to others. Literacy can be defined as (1) a matter of language, (2) having many…

A study was undertaken to assess the French second language proficiency of kindergarten students in two intensive French programs and to assess the development of mother tongue skills of native English speakers in a third program. The three subject groups were as follows: (1) students in a full-day immersion program; (2) francization (half-day)…

An ethnographic study of a Philadelphia elementary school program in English as a second language focused on the way children's first and second languages were used in the classroom, and how this use of language was connected to the learning process. It was found that despite teachers' claims of emphasis on communication skills, a number of…