The importance of fully exploring the values and limitations of early language immersion programs is reiterated. The need to take children's class advantages into account in judging the effectiveness of such programs is emphasized. (PP)

Provides names of individuals who received some type of doctoral degree in foreign languages in 1979-80. List is arranged by area of specialization and, within that, alphabetically by state and personal name. Includes dissertation title. (MN)

Gives the guidelines for a unit of study based on creative activities. Defines procedures, rules of the game, and basic information. The exercises provide instructions and suggestions to stimulate the learners to gradually build a fictional world as a backdrop for the interaction of characters emerging from group work and discussion. (MES)

The development of an intensive Italian course for science students attending Somalia's National University is described. The historical background for this project, sponsored by the Italian Government and staffed by Italian teachers, is outlined. Course objectives, methods, and organization are illustrated by samples of instructional materials,…

Self-help activities designed to practice and improve communication are outlined. Sixteen learning activities are proposed that are based on assertiveness training. They can be used on all language levels to develop all four skills. (Author/AMH)

The Council on Learning's Education and the World View project is described as a carefully defined public project of two years' duration to encourage serious curricular reconsiderations in our schools and colleges in view of the new realities of the world. An undergraduate experience should expose students to other cultures. (MLW)

Describes a successful reciprocal bilingual exchange program between Anglophone fourth-year high school students of Spanish and native speakers of Spanish in an elementary school. Plans and specific activities are outlined for weekly interactions which serve as a sociocultural and linguistic bridge between the two groups of Spanish speakers. (PMJ)

Describes a curriculum based on a notional-functional process used to assist advanced ESL students in handling real-life situations. Suggestions for central and spin-off topics include: goals setting, values clarification, the world of work, and apartment hunting. The course forces the authentic use of English and teaches several skills. (PMJ)

This paper is based on a case study of an audiotape/book based package designed to improve, via distance learning, the English of Namibian teachers of English, which was adapted in 1994-95 for use in Eritrea. (five references) (Author/CK)

Notes that within certain spheres of international English language education, active student participation is seen as central to the "good" lesson and successful conference. Argues that this idea of participation is generated by a discourse of power belonging to a particular culture of professionalism and that it is ethnocentric and…

Analyzes Chinese policy toward secondary English curriculum during five time periods, 1956-present. Focusing on links between politics and education and on the role of a centralized bureaucracy gives only a partial picture of curriculum development, which also includes a widening base of stakeholders, increasing sensitivity to teacher concerns,…

Reports on a study investigating the unlearning of null subjects and null objects by Chinese students (n=159) of English as a Second Language. Results show an asymmetry in Chinese learners' English, which is opposite to that found in native English. (70 references) (Author/CK)

Presents a background to the main issues concerning Asian language learning at a distance at tertiary level and in industry in Australia. Also reports on the development of the course, "Communicate in Japanese: A Self-Study Course," at the Institute of Languages. Describes the benefits of distance education learning as a means of…

College language department heads are encouraged to become proactive in responding to change in higher education by: undertaking departmental planning; ensuring good teaching; emphasizing collegiality; thinking creatively; becoming part of any college restructuring process; identifying allies on campus; staying informed about institutional…

Explores the hypothesis that the background knowledge effect, that is, familiarity with the topic, that enhances reading comprehension in a foreign language occurs only between two thresholds. Findings indicate that a lower threshold may exist, whereas the existence of an upper threshold is an open question. (50 references) (Author/CK)