Issues arising from the need to develop better English proficiency testing for foreign students are discussed, considering three distinct groups of interested people: (1) the students; (2) decisionmakers responsible for the students' admission throughout the institution, including all faculty; and (3) field specialists, including teachers of…

This report discusses the role and status in China of the English language, the main foreign language in the country. The following topics are outlined: (1) The prevalence of English as a foreign language; (2) English within the educational system at preprimary through postsecondary levels, in preservice and inservice teacher training, in…

A guide to the use of role playing in the foreign language classroom outlines in general terms what role play is, provides examples, analyzes its uses, and gives practical assistance in planning activities. The following topics are examined: aspects of role behavior (formality, register, function, attitude, para-linguistic and extra-linguistic…

Precision teaching is a useful tool for individualizing drills on a wide variety of foreign language skills. In 5 to 10 minutes per day, students can systematically practice specific skills in need of improvement. The technique has four major components: (1) a precise means of measuring performance continuously, (2) detailed records on behavior…

An evaluation of the effectiveness of the English language training for Navy recruits at the English Technical Language School (ETLS) in Puerto Rico is reported. The study covers the period of December 7, 1981, to September 30, 1983. It tracked Puerto Rican Army National Guard (PRANG) personnel from completion of English language training through…

Intended for both elementary and secondary school teachers, this book is a reference source for the most recent research in content area reading instruction. The seven sections of the book cover the academic disciplines of English, foreign language, mathematics, music, physical education, science, and social studies. Each section opens with a…

Ten papers, the fifth part of the conference on the applications of foreign languages and international studies to business, examine programs in business French. The following papers are included: "Branching Out: Career French at Bowling Green" (Michael D. Locey); "Toward a More Professional Foreign Language Curriculum: Needs, Programs, Problems"…

The current situation of foreign language education at all educational levels in the United States, is examined with emphasis on new developments in instruction, testing, and program design. In a section titled "The Foreign Language Crisis," the combination of declining foreign language enrollment and increasing need for language skills…

A set of procedures for evaluating language planning and policy is proposed. The method, developed to assess language policy implementation in Morocco since independence in 1956, is suggested as a diagnostic device to assist specialists in evaluating previously implemented plans and those in progress. It isolates the linguistic and extralinguistic…

In spring 1989, 25 community colleges conducted a survey of their English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) students to project the need for ESL services at institutional and statewide levels, and to assess students' existing and desired levels of English proficiency, and the time and resources needed to achieve the desired level. In addition, the study…

The Bilingual Academic Services and Integrated Career Systems Program (Project BASICS) is a federally-funded program of instructional and support services provided to 122 students at a Queens high school. The program's aim was to develop English literacy skills and appreciation of cultural diversity, and to prepare students for the psychosocial…

A discussion of the use of word processing for the instruction of English as a Second Language (ESL) is presented in two parts. The first addresses the uses of the technology in teaching language skills, including writing, vocabulary, grammatical competence, reading skills, and oral skills. Related literature is reviewed and specific examples of…

California school districts are authorized to designate qualified teachers--who do not hold special Commission on Teacher Credentialing-issued documents authorizing bilingual or English language development instruction--to provide English language development and/or academic instruction via the primary language to limited-English-proficient (LEP)…

Communication takes place when a speaker conveys new information to the listener. In second language teaching, information gaps motivate students to use and learn the target language in order to obtain information. The resulting interactive language use may develop affective bonds among the students. A variety of classroom techniques are available…

The Computer Assisted Language Learning Outreach Project for Education (CALLIOPE) was established in 1985 to enhance foreign language instruction in Illinois elementary and secondary schools through inservice teacher education in the form of short workshops, intensive summer institutes, and an internship program. The specific approach is to…