The study of curriculum materials is of interest to social researchers seeking to understand the social constructions of reality. All texts embody a number of purposeful choices about how reality is to be represented, and these choices have consequences for what is "foregrounded, backgrounded, placed in the margins, distorted, short-cut,…

Considers the future challenges for languages in Australia. Discusses the place of language in policy, the place of languages in the curriculum, the role of professional associations, and redeveloping a constituency for languages. (Author/VWL)

Discusses why there has been a decline in the political and educational pressure to learn languages other than English in Australia. Recent political, economic, and educational changes are outlined that encourage the study of European and Asian languages. (Author/CB)

Reviews research on language learning and age, and presents a summary of the conclusions on second language acquisition and mature age learners from key writers in the field. (Author/VWL)

Provides a brief outline of six key issues that have been recurrent in the field of language education and seeks to promote further discussion of these issues. The outline is based on reviews of the relevant contents of three sources that are widely read by language educators in Australia. (Author/VWL)

Discusses language policy matters and the management of cultural and linguistic diversity in the area of education, with particular reference to Eritrea in East Africa and its application to Australia's language situation. The article presents examples of the impact of the tyrannical imposition of language usage, including the long-term…

Evaluates the first stage of "Lernpunkt Deutsch," a new three-stage German course designed for upper elementary and early secondary school. Describes the publisher's package of materials and the appropriateness of the course, utility of the different package elements, format of the materials, and assesses whether the course provides pedagogically…

Overviews developments shaping the current environment of language teaching and learning in Australia, with particular attention to developments in New South Wales, covering such issues as educational organization and structure; the rise in global lifestyles and cultural nationalism; multiculturalism; and the roles of schools, communities, outside…

Examines the German version of an experiment to enhance the learning of a foreign language; specifically, the strategy requires not using any English at all in the classroom, but to use the target language in all matters concerning every lesson. (GLR)

Reviews the use of computer-assisted language learning (CALL) in second-language education and asserts that CALL is an instructional tool rather than a teaching method. More active involvement by educators in planning and developing CALL technologies and software for the second-language classroom is advocated. (83 references) (JL)

Reviews the development of the language immersion method to teach French in Canada in 1965, and discusses the spread of its use to other countries and other languages. The definition of "immersion" is briefly reviewed, and its efficacy is discussed. Finally, possible reasons for the method's success are examined. (12 references) (JL)

Examines in broad terms the Science with Japanese Program at Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, and evaluates the success of this program in terms of academic achievement and relevance to future employment. (12 references) (GLR)

Addresses common questions about immersion-type language programs in Australia through interviews with 18 immersion program students. An explanation is given of what goes on in an immersion program; and student comments regarding the program's knowledge, academic, cultural, social, and general aspects are provided. (six references) (GLR)

Discusses the teaching of languages in primary schools and creation of a foreign language curriculum within the primary school setting. Curriculum development considerations are discussed, including content, methods, and resources needed, teacher development, and the long-term outlook for this type of education. (nine references) (GLR)

Discusses specific points from and provides a critical review of "Lessons from the Learner," an ideas resource book for learning, coming from the learner, that is meant to help teachers empower students to produce and work with their own material/preparation. (GLR)