A discussion of computer use for teaching English as a second language (ESL) at the college level examines what computers can do in and outside the classroom and why ESL teachers should become acquainted with them. It begins by defining the various tools and tasks of the computer, including word processors, instructional courseware, database…

This guide to designing an effective second language instructional program in the public schools provides parents, community leaders, and school personnel with practical guidelines for reviewing current foreign language instructional programs and for introducing changes in the curriculum that are in line with the emphasis on communication. An…

It is no longer possible to approach the teaching of foreign cultures with an ethnographic and objectivist perspective that allows students to believe in the absolute value of a given definition of culture. The first goal of foreign language and culture teaching is the acquisition of communicative competence in the broadest sense of this…

A number of Arab countries, particularly those in which English is a foreign language, have gone to considerable lengths to stress and ensure the use of Arabic as a medium of instruction and expression for all branches of higher education. Progress in Arabicization has been accompanied by a diminishing role for the teaching of English to Arab…

Failures and successes in teaching commercial foreign languages will speak for themselves. However, the profession must not foster exaggerated expectations of mastery in such a broad field, but must state honestly and realistically, with clear limits, what the commercial language course's goals are. In a college course enrolling somewhat…

This guide outlines the Manitoban Department of Education's conversational French-as-a-second-language curriculum for second grade. The program is designed to introduce young children to the French language and culture through the learning of French sounds, vocabulary, and some sentence patterns. An introductory section explains the program's…

The study has two main components: a descriptive study of the secondary French program (SFSL) in a large school district in the Vancouver, British Columbia metropolitan area, and a followup study of grade nine students who had been surveyed initially when they were in grade six of the elementary French program (EFSL). The followup study examined…

Writing samples of four Arab college freshmen students of English as a second language were analyzed. The objectives were to classify the lexical problems found, determine the causes of the problems, and examine the students' choice of certain lexical items in an attempt to determine whether the students were more attuned to the form or the…

The rationale, approaches, and mechanics of publishing a student yearbook in English-as-a-Second-Language programs are discussed, and examples are drawn from the experiences and practices at the University of Pennsylvania. The production of a yearbook is suggested as a context for student writing that transcends the scope of the essay and that can…

Even during the 1970's when diminished national interest in foreign language study was reflected in declining enrollments at most colleges, Tarrant County Junior College (TCJC) was able to maintain a vigorous language program by emphasizing oral communication and developing a flexible curriculum. Since 1975, the college has offered its preparatory…

Articulation remains a significant problem in language education as in education in general. The particular concern is that articulation is targeted toward programs and not toward learners. Specific language teaching methods, and use of more-uniform teaching materials and testing have been used to cope with the problem. However, a broader…

A three-course introductory Italian sequence was developed for architecture students planning to study in Italy during the first semester of their fourth year. The course was designed as an afterthought and for students who would need little or no academic Italian. Syllabus planning and student motivation were hampered by lack of time and low…

This training manual and program guide for staff focuses on planning and designing a notional-functional curriculum for English as a Second Language program. Chapter 1 explains a notional-functional curriculum that is designed around instructional objectives developed upon interrelationships between language functions and notions. The focus of…

A study was conducted to assess social and political factors affecting the implementation of French immersion in northern Ontario, Canada. Using a sample of eight boards in Northeastern Ontario communities, data were obtained by interviewing 17 French immersion principals and 52 immersion teachers. Data were also obtained by surveying all…

This study examined the mathematics achievement of grade three English-speaking pupils enrolled in French immersion or in an English program as a function of language of instruction and the extent to which their teachers used a locally developed mathematics curriculum document. The sample consisted of eight English program classes and four French…