The impact of a grade two enrichment program in a French immersion course is evaluated. Small group activities under the supervision of a parent, grade six students, and a grade two monitor provided opportunities to practice French in a stimulating environment. Significant oral skills gains were measured. (Author/MSE)

Responding to O. Weininger's concern about Early French Immersion (EFI) programs, the author declares that evaluations from all over Canada have shown that EFI students achieve high levels of French proficiency at no apparent academic cost. Other objections to Weininger's conclusions are also raised. (PP)

The six-week immersion Summer Language Bursary Program is designed for post-secondary students wishing to study English or French as a second language. A two-year evaluation of students immediately after and eight months after indicated students had improved oral-aural language skills and increased knowledge of the second culture. (Author/BRR)

This paper examines the evidence on negative effects associated with Irish immersion programs and concludes that even in earlier immersion schools, which frequently lacked parental support, there is little evidence of detrimental academic effects. Many Irish immersion teachers emphasized the importance of parental commitment to immersion…

Describes a method used to identify and correct errors made by French Canadian learners of English, studying at a total-immersion summer program. (AM)

A study is reported evaluating the effects on the development of bilingual reading skills of a second language--native language sequence of reading instruction as opposed to a native language--second language sequence in elementary grade French immersion programs. (RM)

The Middlebury Undergraduate German Language Program is described as a model for a Total Immersion Foreign Language Training program. German is the language of communication, both in and outside of the classroom. Lesson structure, materials and testing are described. (CHK)

Instead of viewing English learners as a problem needing remediation, educators should build an enriched bilingual program for all students. In successful two-way programs, both language groups stay together throughout the school day, serving as peer tutors for each other. After five or six years, English learners can demonstrate English and…

Describes weaknesses in the sociolinguistic competence of second-language (L2) learners as documented by research in immersion contexts. The article discusses findings with reference to adolescent native speakers' use of question forms, conditionals, and second-person pronouns across two levels of formality in written and oral productions. (48…

Considers various factors relating to the failure of recent Canadian graduates of French immersion programs to make substantial use of French immediately following their schooling. The article presents some case studies of adult Canadians engaged in maintaining or improving their French skills. (29 references) (Author/CK)

Describes and critiques a National Endowment for the Humanities-funded summer graduate program at the University of Minnesota for preservice and inservice teachers of French, German, and Spanish. The program combines a language immersion approach in content-based classes with a pedagogical component. (Author/JL)

To address deficiencies in basic skills, a Florida middle school is piloting a program that immerses 75 students in a mastery-learning curriculum centered around reading, writing, basic language arts, and functional math. The program covers science and social studies thematically and has a social/personal skill development unit. The principal's…

Thirteen Kaska Elders took a leading role in a University of British Columbia Kaska language course held in three locations in Kaska territory in the Yukon. The elders conducted a variety of cultural activities, and entire families participated, creating an environment in which the language was constantly spoken and relevant to the activities.…

Reports a study carried out on bilingual adolescents in a school in the Basque Country in which the language of instruction is Basque. Spanish and English are taught starting in Grade 3. Results show that all students are highly competent in Basque and Spanish, but students who use Basque in more domains get the best scores in English. (Author/VWL)

Evaluates differences between immersion and non-immersion university-level students' willingness to communicate, communication apprehension, perceived competence, and frequency of communicating . Also examines elements of integrative motivation. Differences between immersion and non-immersion groups are observed in the communication-related…