This collection of papers examines approaches to teaching near-native ability in foreign languages. The 13 papers focus on the following: (1) "Principles and Practices in Teaching Superior-Level Language Skills: Not Just More of the Same" (Betty Lou Leaver and Boris Shekhtman); (2) "Toward Academic Level Foreign Language Abilities: Reconsidering Foundational Assumptions, Expanding Pedagogical Options" (Heidi Byrnes); (3) "Contexts for Advanced Foreign Language Learning: A Report on an Immersion Institute" (Heidi Byrnes); (4) "Bridging the Gap Between Language for General Purposes and Language for Work: An Intensive Superior-Level Language/Skill Course for Teachers, Translators, and Interpreters" (Claudia Angelelli and Christian Degueldre); (5) "Learning Chinese in China: Programs for Developing Superior-to-Distinguished-Level Chinese Language Proficiency in China and Taiwan" (Cornelius C. Kubler); (6) "Developing Professional-Level Proficiency: The Shekhtman Method of Communicative Teaching" (Boris Shekhtman and Betty Lou Leaver); (7) "The LangNet 'Reading to the Four' Project: Applied Technology at Higher Levels of Language Learning" (Catherine W. Ingold); (8) "In the Quest for the Level 4+ in Arabic: Training Level 2-3 Learners in Independent Reading" (Elsaid Badawi); (9) "Teaching High-Level Writing Skills in English at a Danish University" (Tim Caudery); (10) "Heritage Speakers as Learners at the Superior Level: Differences and Similarities Between Spanish and Russian Student Populations" (Claudia Angelelli and Olga Kagan); (11) "Teaching Russian Language Teachers in Eight Summer Institutes in Russian Language and Culture" (Zita Dabars and Olga Kagan); (12) "Understanding the Learner at the Superior-Distinguished Threshold" (Madeline E. Ehrman); and (13) "Preliminary Qualitative Findings from a Study of the Processes Leading to the Advanced Professional Proficiency Level (ILR 4)" (Betty Lou Leaver). (Contains approximately 320 references.) (SM)