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This article investigates from an acquisitional approach the development of pragmatic competence by novice learners of second language (L2) Spanish. Specifically, it examines the acquisition of various strategies (e.g., head acts, use of softeners, formality marking, and heareroriented directives) to realize Spanish directives. A quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data detected patterns in the learners' directive production. The analysis considered factors such as instruction, L2 grammatical competence, and the influence of the first language (L1) to illustrate the patterns of development of L2 pragmatics at lower proficiency levels. The results show (a) verb forms with increased morphological complexity replaced lower level directive strategies, possibly as a result of the expansion of L2 grammatical competence; (b) pragmatic competence seems to precede grammatical competence; and (c) the L1 pragmatic system appears to play a role in interpreting and processing new L2 data for use in production. MUCH OF THE RESEARCH ON INTERLAN-guage pragmatics (ILP) has focused on language use by second language (L2) learners; in other words, their production of target language speech acts (SAs), rather than on the development of their have called for more investigation into the processes of ILP acquisition. This article examines some patterns of pragmatic development by L2 learners of Spanish at the novice level of university studies. Specifically, it investigates the acquisition of various strategies used to realize Spanish directives, including commands and polite requests. The study analyzes factors affecting L2 pragmatic competence at lower levels of proficiency, such as the effect of instruction in the form of SA lessons,

This article examines various issues related to the development of advanced proficiency by foreign language teacher candidates with the goal of providing information and strategies for teacher educators and administrators at the university level. Recent changes in the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) requirements stipulate that foreign language teacher candidates in specific languages (e.g., French, German, Spanish) must achieve the Advanced‐Low rating on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI)/Writing Proficiency Test (WPT). The article includes descriptions of language proficiency required for foreign language teaching and assessments; a survey of curricula and institutional resources for foreign language education at the university level, which support the development of advanced proficiency; and recommendations for facilitating Advanced language proficiency by foreign language teacher candidates.

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