The basic language issues in Canada are two-fold: (1) French-Canadians are making serious attempts to maintain their native language and culture, and a move towards French unilingualism is apparent; (2) English-Canadians are showing increasing interest in becoming bilingual, mainly because they are not threatened by native language loss or by…

Noting the importance of cultural diversity in American society and of the role of bilingual-bicultural education in maintaining such diversity, this paper discusses the commitment of the Federal government to quality and equality in education as related to linguistic minorities. Legislation such as the Bilingual Education Act and the Lau vs.…

Describes the background and structure of an inservice project which offered primary school teachers in India support in the teaching of English as a foreign language through radio broadcasts. (Author/CB)

The conditions of the development and the present status of the mother tongue in the Finland-Swedish compulsory school are discussed from an investigation under progress. The aims, contents, and methods are examined from both cognitive and affective points of view in the curricula that have governed teaching in the compulsory school. (Author/CB)

Greater cooperation is needed among international agencies which send consultants into developing countries to support the teaching of English, French, German, and other languages. Where there is a shortage of competent English as a foreign language teachers, attention and resources should be focused on one sector of education (such as secondary…

Provides transcript of roundtable discussion about two-way bilingual programs. Discusses the following: (1) reasons for success of programs; (2) spin-off advantages for pupils, schools, and community; and (3) obstacles bilingual education encounter. (PS)

Implementing two-way bilingual programs requires the following: (1) planning; (2) clear goals; (3) teamwork between teachers, administrators, and parents; (4) specialized training for teachers; and (5) assessment of students' initial skills. (PS)

A comparison of language skill development by college students enrolled in a content course taught in French and in a French language course found that content-course students excelled in oral skills and language attitudes and that language-course students excelled in writing skills, challenging conventional assumptions about language-learning…

Discusses the limitations of immersion programs for minority-language children and examines submersion, transitional bilingual education, and reverse immersion approaches according to three criteria: theoretical consistency, fairness to children, and empirical support. Reverse immersion in which children acquire literacy skills in their native…

Compares bilingual education programs in the United States and West Germany, emphasizing instructional models and political and social influences. Summarizes current debate about the role of the home language in the education of minority-language children and points out general problems with home language instruction in the West German context.…

The education of First Nations people has been used primarily for assimilation purposes. The last 30 years have witnessed the beginnings of First Nations' control of education with the primary impetus being self-determination. Achieving self-determination through education has been hindered by the social and cultural problems associated with…

A number of issues in classroom second language instruction, particularly as they relate to grammar instruction, are considered in the context of recent research and theory. Discussion begins with a review of the nature and role of second language grammar instruction. Following this, these issues are explored: whether the native or target language…

Elementary two-way immersion (TWI) programs continue to proliferate throughout the United States, but the number of successfully implemented secondary TWI programs remains small. Many districts with TWI cohorts that are reaching the upper elementary grades must now make complex decisions about whether and how to extend their programs into middle…

This digest briefly reviews the impacts of assimilationist education for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) and describes recent examples of successful AI/AN schools that incorporate students' native language and traditional culture into the curriculum. Beginning in the 1870s, federal policy emphasized assimilation as the goal of AI/AN…

This guidebook is intended for parents of French-speaking students in Alberta. It describes French-as-a-first-language education in Alberta and provides information to help parents, in collaboration with school personnel and the wider francophone community in Alberta, to preserve and develop their children's identity as speakers of French and as…