In response to an earlier article on the effectiveness of French immersion, research on immersion, and the best second language teaching approaches for Canadian schools, it is argued that French immersion research has been misinterpreted and misrepresented and that the stated view on second-language teaching is an extreme one. (22 references) (MSE)

Responding to criticism of an article finding fault with research on French immersion instruction, the author of the first article chides researchers for their unwillingness to re-examine their theories in a new context. (24 references) (MSE)

A French immersion program in Brazil took a group of adults to a mountain retreat for a weekend of intensive language use through fantasy scenarios. (MSE)

The relational roles of the consultant, principal, and classroom teacher in Canada's core, extended, and immersion French programs are examined. Discussion focuses on the relationship between professional practice and instructional substantiveness, and it is argued that isolated and uncoordinated professional practice is counterproductive. (32…

A case study of a child not developmentally ready to handle the linguistic demands of a second language in an academic setting is presented as representative of a subgroup of students. It is suggested that new paradigms for researching suitability of early French immersion for all students are needed. (21 references) (Author/MSE)

Evaluates the role of age on the rate of acquiring English as a second language in an immersion setting in children with native languages typologically very different from English. Results suggest that on certain aspects of grammar, different-aged children can acquire a second language during the first three years of acquisition at similar rates…

Examines the self-assessed proficiency, language-related attitudes, and French use patterns of former immersion students. Early French use and contact with francophones outside the classroom correlate positively to the development of higher French proficiency and to greater use of French in daily life. (26 references) (Author/CK)

Studies second and third grade Spanish and English native speakers' proficiency in both languages and academic achievement, following exposure to extended-length bilingual/immersion program. Considers theoretical assumptions regarding language-thought relationship. Results link bilingualism and achievement. Identifies two language-proficiency…

Reviews the theoretical foundations of French immersion programs in Canada, which are based on early exposure, creation of a natural imitative environment, cross-language interference and support, contextualized learning, and a communicative approach. Describes the practical applications of the theories, immersion program teachers and their roles,…

To provide male role models (and help save the endangered African-American male), a Miami principal assigned 20 black kindergarten boys to an African-American male teacher and 23 black first grade boys to a white male teacher. Focusing on attendance, academic achievement, student partnerships, gentlemanly manners, and appropriate school behavior,…

Foreign languages help advance the three key middle-level concepts of individualization, exploration, and articulation. In content-based, experiential foreign language instruction, students are immersed in the language while learning the content of other academic areas and discovering how to inquire, hypothesize, associate, and synthesize across…

Describes a teacher training course designed to meet the differing language proficiency needs of bilingual and English-as-a-Second-Language teachers, as well as the needs of teachers learning to implement content-based strategies for teaching language. (15 references) (GLR)

Examination of a second grade additive-bilingual (Spanish-immersion) classroom, compared to a monolingual classroom for nonverbal problem-solving and native-language development, found significant differences in problem solving in favor of the bilingual class and no significant differences in native-language development. (46 references) (Author/CB)

Compares fourth-grade single-word reading and spelling of French immersion and traditional English program students to first-grade achievement. Finds that the French immersion students maintained equivalence with English program students. Suggests that the French immersion students may surpass the English program students once they can join their…

Compares performance of 45 first graders in partial French immersion, partial Hebrew immersion, and traditional English programs on measures of linguistic analysis ability and early reading skills in English. Finds that subjects in the Hebrew program read nonwords better than the other groups and read orthographically regular words better than…