Reviews a survey of all Ministries of Education and a sampling of school districts taken to explore whether a French Immersion (FI) teacher shortage exists. Findings indicate a stabilization in the growth rate of immersion programs, a lack of teachers for specialty areas and of teachers specifically trained to teach in immersion. (12 references)…

A study of 127 French immersion students in Alberta found over two-thirds never read in French for pleasure outside school, a finding not influenced by gender, French reading achievement, or attitude towards reading in French. However, students benefitted from some methods used by teachers to stimulate reading. (51 references) (Author/MSE)

Analysis of language production skills of French immersion students in grades 1-6 over 3 years revealed rapid growth of oral competence in the first three years of acquisition, followed by a much slower annual rate of progress. Lexical and syntactic structures most difficult to acquire emerge in five distinct patterns. (50 references) (Author/MSE)

Describes a one-week French language immersion refresher course for middle and high school teachers that serves as a model for reclaiming language loss. The rationale for the program is given, a description of the strategies used is provided, evaluation of the experience is outlined, and suggestions are offered for adapting the program for other…

"One size fits all" literacy instruction works against the success of limited and non-English speaking students. Process instruction, tailoring literacy education to account for students' linguistic and cultural diversity, must begin with the premise that each learner brings a valid language and culture to the instructional context.…

An experimental study was designed to evaluate the effect on French language proficiency of an integrated, formal, analytic and functional, communicative approach to second-language teaching in French immersion. The study consisted of 315 grade 7 early French immersion students. (28 references) (VWL)

An approach to teaching the rudiments of amateur journalism in an intensive language (Brazilian Portuguese) program component of a university Masters of International Business Studies program is reported. Ways that such a project can contribute to the fostering of a communicative language teaching curriculum are discussed. (LB)

Explains antecedents, program variations, and rationale for developing single-sex schools for African-American males and females. Such schools share various values and features based on the importance of gender differences. Most programs offer appropriate same-sex role models, help with transition to adulthood, cultural inoculation, strengthened…

Traces the 20-year development of the Cree Way Project in Waskaganish, Quebec, which now provides total Cree immersion from preschool through grade 4, trilingual instruction (Cree, English, and French) in upper elementary and secondary grades, culturally adapted curriculum and teaching methods, and extensive culture-based education, including…

Reports on a series of recent research projects concerning the principles of additive and subtractive bilingualism in Canadian schools and the probability of minorities and majorities successfully learning a second language based on their overall mastery in their first language. (60 references) (GLR)

Reports a study of the learning strategies and processes of four adult learners of Chinese, using data collected over a two-year period. Students showed a number of different approaches to learning, not all of which could be classified "good language learner" strategies. Findings suggest areas for exploration in immersion education, especially…

Describes sociohistoric influences on the development of Papahana Kaiapuni, an indigenous language-immersion program in kindergarten through grade 12 in selected public schools in Hawaii. Highlights the importance of parental activism and the value of this program as a model for other threatened languages. (SLD)

Describes the instructional strategies used by teachers in two-way bilingual immersion programs. Also describes benefits of the programs. Sidebars include guidelines to implement an effective two-way bilingual immersion program and a discussion of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs. (LMI)

Demographic, economic, and social realities make linguistic and cross-cultural competence essential skills for today's students. This article discusses three innovative program types that build on basic education while enriching it through second languages: second-language immersion for native English-speaking students; developmental bilingual…

Describes the InterCultura Montessori School language immersion program in Oak Park, Illinois. Profiles the work of several children to illustrate important language learning strategies. Recommends that language immersion programs include: survival vocabulary skills; repetition of key grammatical forms; use of objects, pictures, and dramatization;…