A transcript is provided of a radio program broadcast February 24, 1978, on the state of foreign language education. The participants in the discussion were leaders in the field, teachers and students from many parts of the United States and from all educational levels. The subjects covered are: some problems facing foreign language programs; the…

Situational Reinforcement, a teaching methodology developed out of the cognitive-field theory of learning, is described. It combines many techniques and methods developed over the years. This discussion of it considers common learning problems: (1) boredom, apathy and passivity on the part of the student, (2) the teacher's preoccupation with…

These guidelines were developed to assist teacher training institutions in setting up competency-based programs, as mandated by New York State law, for the training of foreign language teachers. The guidelines define basic competencies in the following areas: practical command of the language, language analysis, culture, the teaching-learning…

This is an introductory text for the Swazi language, siSwati. Spoken by nearly a half million people in Swaziland, siSwati is one of the Nguni languages of the southeastern branch of the Bantu languages. Each of the 25 lessons in this text covers one or more basic grammatical structures. The first five lessons present the sound system in detail,…

The fact that a relatively large segment of the secondary school population chooses to learn a second language, for reasons other than entrance requirements, has implications for foreign language curriculum planners. As part of an initial step in planning new syllabi, the Curriculum Advisory Committee of the New York State Education Department…

The perennial problem of articulation of foreign language programs between the high schools and the colleges is readdressed in this paper. Six factors are identified as primary in contributing to the problem: (1) instruction is paced too fast, thus encouraging superficial learning and creating a disparity of coverage practices among the many…

This article describes the evolution of a confluent language program, which provides simultaneous processes for successful language learning, self awareness, self appreciation, and interpersonal communication. The confluent language curriculum design has been successfully implemented in language classes throughout the United States and in some…

This guide was developed to assist schools in the process of self-evaluation of their foreign language programs in grades seven through twelve. The principal focus is on the teaching and learning process, with an emphasis on the quality of the curriculum, the training, experience and effectiveness of the instructional staff, the quality of the…

Recent findings from the fields of brain research and speech perception suggest that non-verbal approaches may be helpful in pronunciation learning. The left side of the brain uses sequential information, such as verbal descriptions. The right side works in a more simultaneous manner, specializing in spatial relations and pitch perception, among…

This paper attempts to make a case for increased use of available technology, especially those aspects commonly designated as educational media, in the foreign language classroom. Several arguments are given to support this position. (1) Research has shown that sight is the dominant sense for most people; therefore, varied and integrated visual…

This highly selective annotated bibliography is intended for the general K-12 classroom teacher who is unfamiliar with the purposes, methods and techniques of bilingual education. With the influx of Indochinese refugees into our nation's school systems, many teachers found that for the first time in their teaching careers, they had one or more…

This paper describes the Foreign Language Alternative Program (FLAP) of Bellevue Community College, in Washington state. The program is designed to provide students with alternative choices best fitted to their individual needs, and is thus individualized and equipped to deal with both academic and vocational programs. The first year of a given…

This paper reviews research literature in the following areas associated with second language reading: (1) the level of language development in the native and target languages, (2) the teaching method selected, (3) the teaching materials selected, (4) the time and place of initial literacy in the home-language (L1), (5) the transition from…

This bibliography of 62 citations provides information on the latest research and resources on Indochinese students' cultural adjustment, language needs, and educational needs in the United States. Included are teachers' guides, research reports, and other materials on understanding and teaching Indochinese students, Indochinese culture,…

The use of speech or language produced by native speakers in real situations for teaching oral communication skills in the second language classroom is described. Three sample lessons, based on the author's teaching experience in Japan, are presented. All lessons used material called "The Bellcrest Story," produced by the British…