This collection of 28 papers was first presented at the 1994 GURT. The theme of the
conference was educational linguistics, crosscultural communication, and global
interdependence. The vastness of the theme is reflected in the diversity of the chapter topics.
Twelve of 28 deal with curricular issues. Of these, those by Kachru, Nyikos, D. Freeman, van
Lier, Loew, and Richards discuss issues and concerns broadly related to the preparation of
language teachers. D. Freeman's chapter is worthy of note because it offers an interesting
discussion on the various strands of scholarship, which he suggests comprise the knowledge base
of language teaching. Six of the 12 chapters center on curricular issues for the language
classroom. Matters relating to the teaching of culture are dealt with by Oxford and Bamgbose.
Brown discusses “responsive language teaching.” Citkina reports on innovative
foreign language methods recently introduced in the Ukraine. A good discussion on
computer-mediated communication and its usefulness to the language classroom is offered by
Stauffer. Pica provides an excellent overview of the research on task-related learning and an
equally useful discussion of its pedagogical implications.
