A study of the evolution of audiovisual methods with particular emphasis on verb usage and indirect discourse. Early texts were totally language-centered; newer texts are student-centered and, in spite of grammatical difficulties introduced, make authentic oral communication possible and attractive earlier in the course. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

The final (high school graduation) examination in French is uniform throughout West Germany, but the states have autonomy in building their course plans. A comparison of curricula reveals many differences, resulting in a difference in the proficiency of graduates. Their final examination scores are not comparable. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Presents a test, including vocabulary, syntax, translation and reading comprehension, for high school graduates beginning the university curriculum in English Studies. The test is designed for placing students in one of three basic courses and providing a basis for counseling. The test's four parts are described. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Mexican-American women studying in a vocational school in New Mexico were studied in order to investigate: (1) the relationship between attained proficiency in English and attitudes toward self and toward the native and target language groups; and (2) reasons for learning English and coming to the United States. (CFM)

A description of French Nights held in an Australian secondary school. These were educational experiences which enlisted the service and cooperation of other departments in the school, aroused and sustained the enthusiasm of the students and proved to be important in maintaining good public relations. (AMH)

From July 1 1974 to June 30, 1975 28,400 Korean immigrants entered the United States. This article updates the estimate of the size of the Korean population in the United States, since the 1970 Census data. It also presents an analysis of the pattern of Korean immigration from the time of the first large group arrived in Honolulu in 1903 to the…

A detailed analysis of errors in French composition of French-speaking secondary school students in Ontario. A general conclusion is that these students do not possess a mastery of formal written French. It is hoped that the analysis will help teachers of minority Francophones elsewhere. (Text is in French.) (AMH)

This article summarizes opinions of 39 foreign language teachers regarding gaps in language teacher education. Innovations in secondary schools have made teacher preparation fall behind. Residence and study abroad is necessary for skills in language and culture. Films and tapes of excellent teaching should be available for study and analysis. (CHK)

Evaluation of the Russian oral and written proficiency of third-year university students (N=9) suggested a clear relationship between the students' initial oral proficiency ratings and the grammatical accuracy of their written compositions; the lower a student's oral proficiency rating, the greater the average number of written mistakes, and vice…

Reports on an experimental teaching approach, based on an innovative video series, used in an English-as-a-second-language (ESL) class for beginning learners. The tapes, which focused on students as they learned (with the viewers learning along with them), showed generally favorable results for ESL students. (Author/CB)

The acquisition of textual competence in a language occurs through the acquisition of both lexical competence and knowledge of word order that allows the construction of well-formed sequences. Exercises that help develop vocabulary and word order skills in French as a foreign language are presented. (MSE)

Comparison of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language's (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) and a communicative competence-oriented dictation test, involving 60 university level French, German, or Spanish majors, revealed significant correlations between the two tests. (CB)

Analysis of multilingual acquisition processes among children at the European School of Brussels reveals how both curricular and extra-curricular factors combine to account for these students' high levels of proficiency in three or four languages. Schumann's (1979) Acculturation Model applied to one case study allows examination of how the…

The study and appreciation of literature should retain its traditional position at the center of foreign language study. A "problem-centered" model is described for teaching literature in the undergraduate foreign language classroom using texts organized around a series of complex critical problems. (CB)

Presents examples of misunderstandings in compliment exchanges in different cultural contexts and analyzes them as instances of pragmalinguistic and sociopragmatic failure. Analysis of complimenting behavior norms forms the basis of a set of exercises designed to assist learners in developing the ability to recognize and use compliments…