Problems in the second language classroom that hinder students from speaking the language freely and creatively arise from three sources: the teacher, the student, and the material. Problems involving the teacher include the common lack of an overall and inclusive definition of the course goal, the role and dysfunction of teacher "authority" in…

The rules and regulations governing Texas schools' treatment of the language and academic needs of limited-English-proficient (LEP) public school students are reviewed. First, a historical overview of the state's laws and regulations governing programs for the LEP population is presented. Second, the state's language and academic assessment…

The Hawaiian Language Immersion Program, implemented at the kindergarten/first grade level in an elementary school on Oahu and one on Hawaii, is described and evaluated. The program was instituted at the request of parents of students who had attended a Hawaiian language immersion preschool and was open to all students, regardless of ethnicity or…

The complete Instructional Reports Series of the Center for Language Education and Research (CLEAR) is presented. Included are (1) "Using Video in the Foreign Language Classroom" (Ingrid Berdahl); (2) "Strategies for Integrating Language and Content Instruction: Art, Music, and Physical Education" (Carolyn Andrade, Carol Ann…

A study was undertaken to identify useful methods for measuring progress in English language proficiency among students at the Yemen-America Language Institute (YALI) in Sana'a, Yemen. The study examined factors critical to such progress as well as the profiles of student attitudes and demographic characteristics. A questionnaire was administered…

An experiment evaluated the impact of an integrated formal, analytic, and functional communicative approach to second language teaching in French immersion on French language proficiency. The impetus for the study arises from research indicating that immersion children show persistent weaknesses in their grammatical skills despite the fluent,…

In its first year, Project Porvenir provided instructional and support services to Spanish-speaking students of limited English proficiency in bilingual and special education in four Bronx (New York) elementary schools. Project goals were to increase students' English language proficiency and develop native language skills, provide career…

The Carpinteria school district in California has developed a model preschool program to bring Spanish-dominant preschool children up to a level of readiness for school that compares favorably with that of English-speaking children in the same community. That goal is achieved by developing skills in four major areas: Spanish language, cognition,…

A handbook designed to acquaint college and university language departments with recent developments in oral proficiency testing gives an overview of the rationale, development, procedures, and implications of oral proficiency evaluation. The discussion is placed in the context of college and university language teaching. An overview section…

The D-E Work Orientation Program at the Phanat Nikhom Refugee Camp is designed to prepare upper-level (D and E) students to enter and succeed in the American workplace. This preparation is especially important for these refugees since they are more likely than the lower-level students to get jobs during their first few months in the United States.…

The typical route to certification for beginning foreign language teachers requires the candidate to complete an approved program of teacher education in a four-year institution, have a certain minimum grade point average, and have completed a specified number of foreign language credit hours. Notable trends in foreign language teacher…

New York State's syllabus for second language education is designed to help local school district personnel fulfill state mandates and develop curricula consistent with state standards. It identifies the components of intended learning outcomes and implications for instruction, but does not specify instructional methods to be used. The guide…

A collection of papers on evaluation and testing in language learning and teaching for communicative competence includes: "Evaluation in Relation to Communicative Language Teaching" (Viljo Kohonen); "On Determining the Function and Quality of Language Tests" (Jan van Weeren); "On the Trail of Everyday Experience...The Individual Learner's…

This report is designed to provide the Norwalk (Connecticut) Board of Education and the entire school community with the status of the school system testing program for the spring of 1987. From May 6 through May 15, the system administered the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBSs) and the Test of Cognitive Skills (TCS) to 5,113 students in…

A study of the kinds of educational services provided to limited English speaking students, how schools provide these services, factors shaping and guiding the programs, and instructional practices fostering the development of school-related language of bilingual students is summarized. The report is divided into two parts: (1) a descriptive study…