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Intermediate Conversation and Composition Courses: What Makes Them Successful?
Author(s) -
Davidheiser James C.,
Lorenz Kathryn M.,
Olsony Nadine
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
foreign language annals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1944-9720
pISSN - 0015-718X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1944-9720.1995.tb00792.x
Subject(s) - conversation , syllabus , presentation (obstetrics) , german , composition (language) , psychology , mathematics education , pedagogy , linguistics , work (physics) , engineering , communication , philosophy , medicine , radiology , mechanical engineering
Successful conversation and composition courses entail a large amount of preparation and coordination. Three examples of courses that work well as a result of these efforts are outlined in this article, which is a report of a well‐received presentation at ACTFL 1993. Included are courses in German, French, and Spanish. Goals are described and common characteristics of each course are delineated. Student activities and assessment methods are highlighted. With syllabi included, these courses are presented not simply as theoretical models but as concrete examples of strategies that succeed in the communicative classroom.