Page:Adapting and Writing Language Lessons.pdf/206

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I.THE PROBLEM

In January, 1971, the East African training staff of the Foreign Service Institute undertook a project the purpose of which was to answer the question 'Can a team of language materials developers be responsive to "specification" in the form of a scholarly article, provided by an area studies specialist who has no connection with the linguistic dimension of training?' In particular, could the response of the language specialists be rapid enough to be economic, and interesting enough to be worthwhile? Favorable answers to this question would in turn point ways to closer integration of the two principal aspects of the training given to Foreign Service Officers bound for East Africa.

II. THE PROCEDURE

The article used for demonstration purposes was R. G. Hollister 'Manpower problems and policies in Sub-Saharan Africa.' (, 1969, pp. 515-32). Miss Ann Reid, African area training specialist at the Foreign Service Institute, suggested it as typical of the articles that she asks her students to become familiar with. The response of the language team was in three phases: (1) to begin collecting materials in Swahili which relate to the content of the article: (2) to show how these materials can become the basis for language study: (3) to list questions