This article reports a case study designed to explore the effectiveness of full-scale, authentic-text theater production for second language learning. Based on the results of preproduction and postproduction tests completed by cast and crew members, as well as the observations of all involved, the authors maintain that the diverse communication…

A survey of research on French as a second language (FSL) education in Canada suggests that French immersion (FI) students enjoy significant linguistic, academic, and cognitive benefits. We organize our summary of the advantages of FI around these three themes, comparing students' proficiency in French and English across various FI programs, and…

This study shows how online courses encouraged non-native freshman students to write poems and short stories in English as a foreign language. The 38 creative writers were enrolled in writing, grammar, vocabulary and reading courses that the author taught over 6 semesters. They were also registered in an asynchronous online course that was used as…

Foreign language learners typically experience considerable anxiety about taking listening tests. This study investigated how four forms of listening support (pre-teaching of content and vocabulary, question preview, and repeated input) affect the anxiety levels of college students in Taiwan taking a multiple-choice achievement test, which counts…

Keiwa College, a small liberal arts college in Niigata, Japan, has developed a number of on-campus and community-based teacher training programmes to benefit our students in the teacher education course in the Department of English and Communication and in-service English teachers in the area. These programmes provide students with opportunities…

The notional-functional or communicative approach to foreign language teaching as practiced in East Germany is described. The purpose of communicative foreign language teaching is to prepare the learner to communicate in real-life situations. Classroom and real-life situations differ in several respects, most notably in communicative intention.…

The lack of oral testing in second language learning and the reasons for this lack are discussed. Examples of oral tests which have been developed are given. (RM)

Oral work is considered the most effective way of laying the foundations for language proficiency. Recognition and production of vowels and consonants, use of a pronouncing dictionary, and practice in accent rhythm and intonation should all be included in a pronunciation course. (SC)

For adults, there is a correlation between the years of formal study of English and English proficiency. Formal instruction in general is more beneficial for second language learning than exposure to the second language in natural situations. The essential contributions of formal instruction are investigated. (Author/ND)

Discusses the assumptions underlying content-area reading instruction for native speakers of English, which also apply to students of English as a second language. This includes the need for providing guidance for students acquiring the concepts inherent in the content. (Author/HP)

Describes a 5-hour-weekly course in French as a third foreign language, for Grades 11-13--in particular, the students' motives in choosing the course, methodology, and the rapid transition from textbook work to work with supplementary materials to work with original texts. The course was judged successful. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

A brief history of foreign language study in the U.S. is given and several popular language teaching theories described. Emphasizing the importance of learning communicative skills in the foreign language, various procedures for stimulating communication in the classroom are suggested. (CHK)

The current approach in teaching Japanese as a second language is questioned as inefficient. The forward-looking approach does not condition students to expect that they must learn all the items of a set before being able to learn anything else. (HP)

Voices concern over widening gap between preferred educational directions of the educational establishment and the public-at-large. Details how Ontario's policy regarding English education illustrates this trend. Concludes that schools and educators should be free to choose their own methods of instruction but be accountable for their results.…

Discusses methodological implications of a proficiency orientation focused on speaking, placing proficiency in the context of grammar, communicative competence, and functions/notions. Discusses repercussions in foreign language teaching of the varying emphases on these contexts. Asserts that a proficiency orientation allows tailoring of teaching…