Three surveys (1983, 1984, 1985) were performed by the National Foundation for Education Research in England and Wales to investigate how pupils in early secondary years think and feel about their foreign language learning. Tables outlining the students' attitudes (boys' separately from girls') toward classroom activities including the usefulness,…

Recent reports and proposals for the improvement of foreign language education and general education (with implications for foreign language instruction) are examined and critiqued, and consideration is given to current developments for this field and the establishment of a national foundation for foreign languages and international studies. (CB)

Study of 11-year-old Swedish-speaking learners of English (N=21) reading two passages from an English fairytale for meaning found that the subjects mainly made use of two knowledge sources (their mother tongue and previous knowledge of the tale) to comprehend the tale. (Author/CB)

Describes a methodology for discovering how the communicative notion of temporal frequency is expressed in academic English. Almost 300 different linguistic devices are identified and described, along with the number of times they each occur in two large corpora of written academic English. (Author/LMO)

Suggested classroom activities for French language instruction include: exercises focusing on problems of language transfer, interference, and overgeneralization; a lesson in problems of literal translation; an activity to develop guessing skills; situation-specific communication exercises; practice in asking questions; activities to develop…

Summarizes some preliminary findings from research into the nature and effect of various discourse modifications by a native speaker to a language learner. These modifications include (1) idiom avoidance; (2) comprehension checks and pauses; and (3) selection of information. An informal experiment gauging foreign students' impression of…

A synopsis of characteristics of effective English as a second language teachers (in the areas of knowledge, skills, and attitudes) is presented as well as a discussion of appropriate approaches (interaction analysis versus assumed teacher competencies) for evaluating teachers. (Author/CB)

A method for integrating theory and practice in English as a second language teacher training is outlined. The model's steps include videotaping a teaching session; review and discussion of the videotape; evaluation of the lesson's most and least effective elements; and studying theoretical issues brought up through study of the tape. (CB)

Provides a rationale for considering English for specific purposes in terms of "appropriate technology"; surveys the philosophical and intellectual underpinnings of the appropriate technology movement; defines key terms and clarifies them with language teaching examples; and briefly considers some objections to the notion of appropriate…

Presents a three-part approach for developing critical reading and critical thinking skills in the foreign language curriculum. This approach seeks to (1) establish a conducive environment for critical thought; (2) sharpen students' critical eye through extensive analytical reading; and (3) sensitize students to language and language use.…

A distinction should be made between movements, which spontaneously influence the course of language teaching, and projects designed to effect change or deal with specific issues or problems by research methods. A Canadian professional association has proposed a major national project on core French instruction. (MSE)

Seven prominent English-as-a-second-language (ESL) teachers present their lists of 10 instructional materials (textbooks, research studies, audiovisual materials, etc.) they would take abroad with them when teaching ESL to adults. (Author/CB)

The chair of a small college department of modern languages reviews the struggle and progress of advanced literary study in foreign languages, covering such issues as: lack of courses and students able to study such courses; needs for curricular reform; and cooperation with other college departments. (CB)

Thirteen articles that discuss use of computer assisted instruction (CAI) in humanities education specifically cover CAI use in philosophy, musicianship training, rhetoric, foreign language, English as a second language, and writing instruction; CAI authoring systems; videodisc technology; educational history; computer simulations; videodisc…

Discusses on-site monitoring, that is, the time spent by a vocational English as a second language instructor at the job site to oversee training in order to evaluate the quality of training received and to analyze the language and cultural needs of the trainees. (SED)