This article considers the issue of the application of linguistic theory and knowledge about the way language functions to second language teaching. It is suggested that this application should be carried out by taking into account educational factors, such as the intended audience, the teaching methods, and the educational objectives. The choice…

This paper questions the purpose of testing in second language instruction. Comments are based on an examination of tests used by the Defense Language Institute for students of English as a second language. Two kinds of tests are used: the English Comprehension Level (ECL), used primarily as a basis for setting exit requirements, and "Book…

The theme of this issue of ELT Documents is the use of the language laboratory in language learning. An article by A. Maley summarizes the conference on the use of the language laboratory for advanced learners, held in Paris, 2-4 Oct. 1974, from which two main perspectives emerged. One is critical of the structuralist audio-lingual assumptions…

The purposes of this paper are to: (1) describe the general linguistic situation in Alaska, (2) describe the bilingual education situation, and (3) discuss the effectiveness of the bilingual education programs and give an idea of the potential of bilingual education as a social force in Alaska. Much of the information is summarized in a number of…

St. Bonaventure University holds a Language Day each spring, hosting some 3,900 area junior high and high school students. The buildings and facilities of the university campus are used, and activities include language competitions (exhibits, interpretative readings, language productions, audio-visual presentations and essays); a fiesta; foreign…

The influence of mother-tongue interference is examined on the basis of data from two tests at different levels of English proficiency: a commercial-college level, covering 4-5 years of English studies, involving a composition and translation test, and a preuniversity level, covering 7-8 years of English studies, with a multiple-choice test. A…

This is a text intended for use with adult beginning classes in ESL in a 15-week intensive course. The major objective of the text is to develop communicative competence. Therefore, the structures are taught through mechanical drills, meaningful drills, and finally communicative drills, so that "teacher talk" is gradually diminished and "student…

This course, designed for instructing potential teaching assistants to teach college students a foreign language, concentrates on six major areas of preparation. A detailed outline covers: (1) course introduction and definitions, (2) applied linguistics, (3) approaches and methods, (4) testing, (5) classroom techniques, and (6) demonstrations.…

This report integrates instructional materials and concepts on the teaching of culture in foreign language classes in three major areas. Part 1 deals with the description of sociocultural concepts of Spanish peoples with emphasis on the basic features of Latin American Culture including: (1) the family, (2) family events, (3) social peculiarities,…

This guide, designed for use by kindergarten teachers, to teach Spanish to speakers of other languages and to teach standard Spanish to speakers of non-standard Spanish, contains 136 half hour lessons, covering the school year. The completely oral program presents a structured sequence of language learning experiences geared to the children's…

This guide, produced by teachers and students, departs from the typical approach to language study in that the courses are based neither on a sequential progression of subject matter nor on a chronological view of Latin American history. The primary objective in the planning for both levels of instruction is to develop sociocultural and literary…

This basic textbook for Latin American Spanish contains 10 units. The text is adaptable for use in an academic institution (Completion time is expected to be one year.), in an intensive program (Completion time is about 90-120 hours.), or in independent study. The vocabulary is limited and only basic, essential, grammatical structures are…

This book, written from the viewpoint of both the immigrant and the native-born, provides practical information that is helpful to communities attempting to present their demands for better education more cogently and helps educators meet such demands with appropriate programs. The three major groups most affected by bilingual education programs…

Included in this volume are the reports on foreign language research and development produced by the three working committees of the fifteenth annual Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Discussions of (1) the Indiana and Washington State programs, (2) "Artes Latinae," a complete project of programed learning…

Objectives in the teaching of modern languages are enumerated, and their bearing on content and methodology is pointed out. Practical (communication), educational, cultural, and formative objectives are identified and their appropriateness for different educational levels and teaching conditions is discussed. References to second language learning…