A survival language learning syllabus for foreign travel

This article presents a language syllabus containing approximately 120 items which represents an easily achievable goal for people wishing to visit a foreign country for a month or more. The syllabus is the result of needs analyses involving interviews with learners, analysis of guide books, and personal experience. In addition, the items in the syllabus have been checked for frequency, coverage, and combinability. The syllabus is divided into eight categories, greetings and being polite, buying and bargaining, reading signs, getting to places, finding accommodation, ordering food, talking about yourself, and controlling and learning language. The article concludes with advice for learning the items in the syllabus. © 1991.