The article offers a critical review of The Gift of Languages. Paradigm Shift in U.S. Foreign Language Education by Fabrice Jaumont & Kathleen Stein-Smith, published by TBR Books in 2019. The book, fitting in the general category of instruction manuals and motivational materials, has been written in support of the cause of the advocates of the paradigm shift in foreign language learning in the United States. Focusing on the need to expand the L2 skills among US elementary, high school, and college students by means of the systematic implementation of two-way Dual-Language Immersion programs in K-12 and secondary public education, the monograph contributes to the mission of the Center for the Advancement of Language, Education and Communities. The CALEC, a non-profit organization with international membership and worldwide reach, focuses on promoting multilingualism and cross-cultural understanding by supporting language communities in creating programs of education in languages and cultures. The present article offers a review of this important, albeit popular, publication as a document testifying to the transformations of the American culture in the Age of Globalization.
The article aims at describing the affective factors that accompany the process of foreign language learning by late adults aged: 53-83. The article also concentrates on such issues as motivation and language learning experiences as well as coping strategies implemented by late adults to minimize the negative affect. The research was carried out among 87 subjects (79 females and 8 males) who attended an English language course organized by the University of Third Age (Katowice) in 2011/ 2012. The research was based on a narrative inquiry and questionnaire data.
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