This digest discusses the simulated oral proficiency interview (SOPI), a performance-based, tape-mediated speaking test. The SOPI follows the general structure of the oral proficiency interview (OPI) used by government agencies and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) to measure speaking proficiency. Whereas the OPI is…

The paper focuses on facilitating students' autonomy. Though the main observed difference in the classroom often seems to be the student's level of language knowledge, this may have its roots in other reasons besides ability (previous teaching, motivation, etc.). Therefore, learners have not only different cultural and social backgrounds but also…

The book opens with the names of twelve objects, which the teacher must have before him. These names have been selected with a view to embracing the whole alphabet, so that when the pupil has learned to write them, he has also learned to form all the letters in use. The teacher then directs the pupil, in writing, to touch one of these objects,…

Discusses reasons why Americans should learn languages in a world becoming increasingly and simultaneously international and complex. (RL)

Discusses the work of L.S. Vygotsky, expressed in "Thought and Language," concerning the effect of language learning on the intellectual development of the child above and beyond his spontaneous development. (RL)

Address presented at the Institut voor Taalonderwijs de la Vrilje Universiteit Brussel in Brussels, Belgium, June 4, 1973. (RL)

Examines syntactic difficulties encountered by the student of French in expressions requiring the use of the relative pronouns "qui" and "que". (RL)

Describes TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). (PG)

Paper supported in part by a Peace Corps contract to the Language Research Foundation, Cambridge, Massachusetts. (VM)