A technique, referred to as "Personalities," for helping students practice second-language conversational skills is described. The exercise can teach and review vocabulary, grammatical structures, and cultural information. (Author/LB)

A review essay is presented of two curricular documents that establish guidelines for the planning and teaching of languages other than English, French, or Aboriginal in Ontario secondary schools. Some problems and inconsistencies are noted, but the guides are considered to be helpful. (13 references) (Author/LB)

A study investigated the communication strategies used by successful and less successful early French immersion learners by analysis of the use of 10 specific communication strategies. Results show effective communicators used virtually all strategies, with more achievement than reduction strategies; less effective communicators used fewer…

A study used classroom observation in a two-way Spanish immersion kindergarten to identify aspects of the classroom environment that permitted and promoted participation by the English-speaking children despite their limited Spanish proficiency. Two participation structures were analyzed: teacher-directed lessons and child-centered activities.…

A study examined effects of requiring mainly nonfrancophone university freshmen to use word processing in a French literature course. Results showed students learned word processing without harmful effects on course performance, showed greater control over French spelling and grammar, and wrote more syntactically complex French. Increased…

The need for qualified teachers of French as a second language and ways of renewing teacher education programs to meet the need are discussed. Preservice and inservice teacher education are considered. (27 references) (Author/MSE)

The applied linguist, who most commonly uses interlanguage analysis for nonstandard language forms, and the language teacher, who relies heavily on error analysis, each need to learn the usefulness and viability of the other method in his own professional context. Examples focus on the written preterit form in Spanish. (44 references) (Author/MSE)

Graduates (n=42) of an innovative bilingual program were surveyed concerning their language use, social behavior, occupational behavior and expectations, and postsecondary education. Participants rated their language skills favorably and had positive attitudes toward other language groups. Graduates also pursued many career paths because of their…

Forty-six ideas for introducing culture into the second-language classroom are outlined. They include activities concerning history and geography, social values and morals, lifestyle, and behaviors. The ideas presented consist of either topics or classroom techniques for promoting reflection and discussion. (five references) (MSE)

Recent initiatives in second language testing theory, practice, and research are reviewed, including test specificity, relevance, accuracy, multidimensional assessment, and the test's link to instruction, and their relevance to language teaching is discussed. Special attention is given to Canadian contributions to the field. (63 references)…

A discussion of the need to teach revision as part of the writing process begins with an analysis of the revision process and presents results of experiments in teaching revision. Some specific classroom techniques for teaching error detection and revision are then outlined. (20 references) (Author/MSE)

Three studies of the development of gender competence in elementary and intermediate level learners of French as a second language are reported. The findings support an emerging rule-governed process of gender assignment related to the learner's development of skill with the language's underlying phonological system. (11 references) (MSE)

Some of the cognitive and affective factors influencing second language reading comprehension are reviewed, and an instructional technique designed to both guide the reading process and develop comprehension at several levels is described. Teachers are urged to develop process-oriented reading comprehension activities in collaboration with…

Issues in the assessment of learning about target-language culture are discussed, and some techniques for classroom assessment of three areas of culture (knowledge, awareness,, and functional skills) are outlined. It is argued that culture is crucial for development of communicative competence and should not be taught without being assessed. (53…

Historical/sociocultural circumstances of the French language in Canada are outlined and the role of Quebec French in Canadian language education is discussed, focusing on its place in French teaching outside Quebec and in development of bilingualism. Establishment of a Quebecois language is viewed as essential to French Canadian cultural…