This report investigates how technologies such as computers, multimedia, and telecommunications can be effective tools for English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) instruction. Both ESL and non-ESL teachers are coming to view these technologies as a means by which ESL learners who cannot otherwise participate in class activities can be actively involved…

Academic collaboration among students takes place not only inside the classrooms but outside of class as well. This study investigated such out-of-class academic collaboration among Singaporean polytechnic students as they worked on assignments in which their instructors had made collaboration mandatory. Data were collected via questionnaires…

There is growing evidence that the needs of adult and child or adolescent learners are very different. A recent study of adult learning and literacy suggests that participants who have goals in mind are likely to persist in their studies, and changing a goal through experience appears to be a positive decision. Effective adult learning programs…

Interest in teaching the English language to those who come to the U.S. from non-English-speaking countries has increased to such an extent that a comprehensive bibliography of textbooks and other publications is in demand. To meet this need, Dr. Winthrop Talbot was tasked with compiling a bibliography of textbooks, dictionaries, glossaries, and…

This compilation of 12 papers covers lesson planning; classroom use of dialogs, drills, audiovisual aids, music, games, stories, newspapers, field trips; and testing in the adult ESL classroom. (EKN)

Three oral testing methods (imitation, completion, and interview) were compared for reliability and validity with 143 adult Egyptian learners of English. Five components (raw score, fluency, pronunciation, grammar, and combined fluency-pronunciation-grammar) were analyzed for each method. Imitation showed the highest validity, with interview and…

Structures of first-year French courses in Canada are similar except for contact hours. Enrollment is generally increasing, despite staff funding problems. Textbook choices change slowly, and eclectic methodology predominates. Institutional enrollments, trends, class hours, and course types are charted, and a list of textbooks is included. (MSE)

A cooperative program of the economics and foreign languages departments offers three undergraduate majors: an economics B.A., with two foreign languages; a B.A. double major of economics and either French or Spanish, complemented by a second language; and a B.S. in business administration, individually designed, with one modern foreign language.…

A restructured core curriculum at Saint Anselm College includes an interdisciplinary humanities program incorporating a required foreign language sequence. Introductory courses use native speakers in weekly informal conversation sessions to prepare students for a later required culture and civilization course taught in the foreign language. (MSE)

Results of an investigation of correspondence teaching methods and of a series of interviews with University of Waterloo faculty suggest that correspondence language instruction should be an integral part of continuing education and has a significant untapped market among adults. Recent technological advancements will serve this endeavor well.…

The role of vision and bodily movement in the field of language instruction is explained by a phonetician and professor of modern language. (CS)

Presents recommendations on establishing liaisons with elementary and secondary schools; teaching the writing skills; helping independent scholars; developing continuing education programs; requiring foreign language for college admission; training ML graduate students as teachers; resisting exploitation of part-time faculty members; limiting…

Provides an evaluation of a 30-year experience in teaching Italian to German-speaking elementary school children in an upper northeast region of Italy. Analyzes degrees of bilingualism and sociocultural contact, emphasizing the need for culturally oriented, carefully structured materials and instruction by specially trained teachers. (MES)

Advocates teaching communicative skills through strategies that rely on real life situations and encourage students' performance of different social roles. Recommends de-emphasizing teacher presentation in favor of learner's practice and interaction with other learners. This stimulates creative manipulation of variable, open-ended materials…

Describes a survey of graduate-degree-granting departments of foreign languages, linguistics, and comparative literature designed to investigate the teaching assistants (TA) system. Analyzes the findings of the survey and offers recommendations for a model program of TA training, supervision, and evaluation. (MES)