Contrastive rhetoric theory, an extension of contrastive grammar, holds that the rhetorical predispositions of a student's native language will interfere with attempts to learn the rhetoric of a second language; and that because speakers of different languages think differently, they organize paragraphs differently, a situation which influences…

After the passage of a resolution by the South Dakota Board of Regents to place greater emphasis on the study of foreign language, Northern State College introduced commercial video programs in Spanish for classroom use. After installing a parabolic antenna and the other necessary equipment, the department selected and edited a series of programs,…

A course in German for business on the college level must engage in cross-cultural training as well as teach specialized vocabulary and conversational German for international business dealings. Materials and methods for such a course are described. Some generally untapped sources for material on corporate culture that are suited for use in the…

An Eastern Michigan University course in Spanish for special purposes with an emphasis on technology was intended to serve students of business, international trade, and technology, but the actual enrollment came largely from the department of foreign languages and bilingual studies. However, significant diversity in scientific preparation and…

A project researched a process and generated a sample product to facilitate the teaching of English to adults who have limited proficiency in reading, speaking, or writing the language. Specific areas of interest included using a videocassette recorder (VCR) as a supplemental delivery system, using home video equipment to develop instructional…

The course in basic Pashto consists of seven units, each containing five lessons. Lesson topics include informatioh about the Pashtuns, classroom communication and behavior, greetings, telephone use, visiting someone's house, giving personal information, conversation skills, giving and getting directions, discussing everyday life, the seasons,…

The textbook for a course in basic Pashto contains seven instructional units, each consisting of five lessons. Each lesson contains a list of objectives, a review of previously learned words and sentences on which the new lesson is based, new vocabulary, a dialogue, pronunciation exercises, exercises in sentence structure, activities to encourage…

An introductory course assignment for writing in English as a second language consists of four steps: (1) in a survey, students assess their own writing skills in both their native language and English; (2) each student interviews two people, one who writes frequently in the student's native language and one who writes frequently in English, about…

A two-year ethnographic study of kindergarteners' experiences in a French immersion classroom focused on the processes by which children find and construct meaning through classroom interaction and communication processes. Data were gathered through classroom observation and videotapes. The initially unilingual English-speaking students were…

The curriculum guides for foreign language and intercultural education programs in United States dependents schools overseas provide instructional ideas designed to promote learning about the language and culture of the host nation. The series, covering kindergarten through eighth grade, was written by host nation teachers, classroom teachers, and…

The curriculum guides for foreign language and intercultural education programs in United States dependents schools overseas provide instructional ideas designed to promote learning about the language and culture of the host nation. The series, covering kindergarten through eighth grade, was written by host nation teachers, classroom teachers, and…

Suggestions are given for structuring an eight-semester undergraduate foreign language major with a specialization in translating and interpreting from the target language into English. The program includes three training stages: theoretical training in the discipline, practice in the discipline, and expansion of general knowledge. Course topics…

As more professionals come to rely on computer-based online information systems, knowledge of foreign languages and cultures plays a crucial role in the accurate storage, management, and retrieval of needed information. In the storage and management of information, foreign language knowledge is important in word choice and thesaurus control,…

This special issue of "Per Linguam" is entirely devoted to a report of a project to improve the English language proficiency of primary school teachers in the Kwa Zulu area of Southern Africa. The inter-university project was designed to raise the standards of English modeling and instruction early in the education of children in order…

The teacher's manual for Peace Corps volunteer language training in Ciluba is designed for introductory oral language instruction. It is intended to assist trainees in functioning in the language within at least 6 weeks, and to transmit cultural information about the host country through linguistic structures, texts, and discussion topics. It…