An oral language test administered at the end of a four-year program combining business administration and French is described. The test consists of the formal presentation of a report including numbers, graphics, and text, a discussion of a theoretical issue, and interview. (MSE)

Describes courses that were developed for travel industry management degree programs to teach French, Spanish, Japanese, and Mandarin. Discusses the development of these programs, focusing on the Japanese courses. Explains the type of background information that was collected prior to developing materials for the first- and second-year Japanese…

A college French civilization course based on the important role of television in French contemporary culture, as formative of cultural habits, and on its similar importance to contemporary American students is described. (MSE)

An Air Force Academy German department study of the effectiveness of computer-assisted language instruction using interactive videodisc technology is reported. It was found that the limiting factor was not the technology but the available software, and the advantage over videotapes is the time saved in not having to find tape locations. (MSE)

Trends in college foreign language requirements and enrollment are reviewed, and the experience of Carleton College is outlined. The college's efforts to strengthen languages' role in the upper division curriculum have included special efforts to create interesting courses and incentives for further study, extracurricular activities, study abroad,…

Two different projects in ESL training for immigrant workers, one for a garment company and one for metal workers in a turbine plant, are described and compared. The programs were for Indochinese and Eastern Europeans, respectively, and involved no unions. Extensive preparation made both programs expensive. (MSE)

Describes a two-semester course held at a French college for a group of Saudi student technicians with the objective of providing both general communication skills in the French language and technical skills. Discusses evaluation instruments, including systematic interviews with students, and their impact on the learning rate. (MES)

Considers whether college foreign language programs are truly victims of outside forces or have neglected taking responsibility for their fate. Explores the internal status of the language and literature curricula, public perceptions of them, how institutions have tried to "solve" language department problems by restructuring them, and how…

Overviews the most recently published or revised version of North American second-year Italian textbooks. Notes that each of the six textbooks reviewed provides sound pedagogical materials designed to enhance instruction. (55 references) (CK)

Describes curricular changes in a private Japanese university's English department, and explores the curricula typical of such programs. The new program's three major features, including a freshman English program, a content study, and graduation papers and theses are highlighted. (12 references) (Author/CB)

Classroom observation of 13 college language courses and analysis of student questionnaire and teacher interview responses indicated that teachers varied widely in use of target language with a mean of 67.9 percent; language type, departmental policy, lesson content, and teacher training affected target language use; and students were generally…

A survey of native Arabic speaking students in the Department of English at Yarmouck University revealed their dissatisfaction with their proficiency level, the study plan, the lack of emphasis on language in literature classes, and the failure of literature classes to help them master syntax, morphology, and phonetic complexities. (CB)

Provides a reference base for teachers concerned with problems and issues of teaching foreign languages to Afro-American students in the United States. Cites 51 journal articles, unpublished documents, and doctoral dissertations that discuss rationales for foreign language study by Black students and describe teaching strategies and curriculum…

The development and use of two programs developed at Loyola College using HyperCard are described. One is a reading comprehension program of a Renaissance Italian text; the other, in German, uses scanned-in maps of the various stages of German political development to illustrate German history. (21 references) (LB)

A study investigated factors that facilitate innovation in intensive English programs at 43 universities, based on administrators' perceptions. Results indicate program aspects felt to influence innovation, successfully implemented innovations, and perceived qualities of innovative policies and practices. A complex set of variables emerged. (MSE)