ABSTRACT
The FOCAL SKILLS (FS) approach is a relatively recent development in language program design. The basic intent of FS is to accelerate the acquisition of intermediate-level language proficiency by maximizing the efficiency of instruction; this is supposed to be accomplished by carefully placing each student in a sequence of skill-focused modules in which comprehensible input and communication are stressed. Since FS is now being used by several intensive English programs, it is both possible and desirable to evaluate the approach empirically.
