Reviews the present situation of foreign languages in the U.S. and discusses the prospects for their future. Sees reasons for believing that the near future may bring a resurgence of interest in at least some modern languages and advocates intimate knowledge of a foreign language and culture for its humanistic value. (MES)

Urges French departments to teach the language on its own terms rather than competing with Spanish on its own terms, recommending an iconoclastic shift from an emphasis on pronunciation and correctness to a critical look at culture that will allow students to see themselves and the target culture from inside and outside. (SM)

This article focuses on the paucity of resources usually designated for rising numbers of students in Spanish courses as enrollments dwindle in other languages. Offers advice on how the strength of Spanish can be deployed to help other languages. (Author/VWL)

Discusses reactions of foreign language departments with declining enrollments and hence less funds and the impulse to shift a focus on the means and purpose of instruction. Suggests that it is important to preserve face-to-face direct coaching in language learning and to expose students to the Western European heritage that shapes the experience…

Discusses ways to increase enrollments in college foreign language courses and build full-service language departments, suggesting nine strategies to promote interest in foreign languages. The strategies encourage faculty to reach out to students and faculty in other departments, to the community, and to the region via public programs such as film…

This book addresses the problem of the future of Germanics as a field of study at colleges and universities in the United States. It is noted that the study of Germanics has been losing tens of thousands of students for the past 25 years, that this slide downward is no longer attracting enough attention from the Germanics community, and if it…

Looks at factors that contribute to the international status of a language, reviews the economic relations between the United States and German-speaking countries, and finds a confluence of factors that contributes to the reemerging utility of German-language skills for Americans. Discusses enrollment patterns in German-language courses and how…

Provides information about some of the activities of the National Forum on the Future of Spanish Departments on College and University Campuses that took place in September 1999 and highlights issues that were discussed including enrollments, curriculum design, Spanish for instrumental purposes, and the structure of foreign language policies…

Suggests that robust foreign language departments, such as Spanish, must support other languages or end up as the only language offered on campus other than English. (Author/VWL)

Potential changes in education are examined against a background of pluralism in American educational history in comparison to the relative prestige of foreign language learning in the curriculum. Foreign languages suffer today from competition brought about by limited finances, early release programs, and many electives. (SW)

Argues that despite the decline in enrollments in German at elementary and secondary schools and colleges and universities, there is reason to hope that interest can be invigorated. Suggests that there are easy instructional methods and materials for developing a new motivation in learning the language. (Author/VWL)

Presents strategies used in the International Engineering Program at the University of Rhode Island for incorporating technical German in first year classes. Outlines the language functions that can be developed in this way, gives concrete examples of the materials used, and provides specific suggestions for coordinating these materials with a…

Overviews the numbers and kinds of students taking college-level Japanese courses currently, their motivations and challenges, and some of the ways in which Japanese is different from the more commonly taught languages. Notes that for the first time in United States history the study of a language outside the Indo-European family, i.e., Japanese…

Discusses the future of classical languages in the American educational system. Notes that while fewer college students are enrolled in classical languages, the numbers are growing at the K-12 levels. (Author/VWL)

In response to falling enrollments in French and a diminishing pool of high school teachers, faculty at Auburn University tried to turn the tide through a series of curricular and advocacy initiatives. They introduced new French majors in education and in international trade and a collaborative major with the Consumer Affairs Department in French…