NovELTy December 1996 [antikvár]

A Green Season This has been a truly green season for NovELTy. Each of the three issues published this year has graced a shade of green across the masthead of the journal: from a shooting grass green on the first, to the darker, more mature shade on the second, to the ivy color on the third cover. The editors have been green, too. This has been our first year on the journal; and the volume of the editorial work that began in early January has grown steadily over the three issues. It took some time before we realized what this job involved: encouraging colleagues to write up their ideas in time for the liveline; soliciting contributions from students; and getting it all together in a publication that is attractive, relevant and readable. It is with considerable satisfaction, though, that we can acknowledge the involvement of an increasing number of contributors: NovELTy 3/3 is a real gift for us: never have we hoped for a Special Double Issue. Thank you all who have made this major development possible, for all of us to rejoice in. Special thanks to the ELTECS representatives from eighteen countries, who, in a Bled, Slovenia, meeting, indicated the international validity of issues discussed in NovELTy. They, and the correspondents who had contacted us, suggested that NovELTy should be available by subscription. As a result, an agreement reached by The British Council Hungary and IATEFL Hungary now makes it possible to get four issues for 1,000 Forints in 1997 (batteries not included). Please see the IATEFL Hungary News section in this issue (page 142) for details. This is a special gift from the publishers. But read on: there is another surprise into the bargain, although you may only open the box of desserts after devouring main course bites. In the gift box, there is an abundance of contribution collectibles. Zooming in on testing issues, this number opens with Ottó István's discussion of one of the most controversial issues in language learning: aptitude. Other articles focus on testing language proficiency in three different areas: Katona Lucia's discourse analysis of oral language exams is 4 NovELTy December 1996