SINCE THE STRENGTH OF THE PEACE CORPS EFFORT DEPENDS ON THE VOLUNTEERS' ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE IN THE LANGUAGE SPOKEN IN THE HOST COUNTRY, INTENSIVE LANGUAGE COURSES, PATTERNED AFTER THOSE OF THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AND FOREIGN SERVICE INSTITUTES, OCCUPY 30 TO 40 PERCENT OF THE AVERAGE 8-TO 10-WEEK PRELIMINARY TRAINING PERIOD. BASED ON GENERAL PEACE…

A case for the study of foreign languages by pupils in the United States is presented in this book. The polyglot nature of America and the history of its language education is described, and language programs in foreign countries and in the United States are compared. Also discussed are the need for adequate language education for international…

A research report summarizes second language study, language training practices, and trainee attitudes toward language learning in the Peace Corps. The two equal parts of the study consist of findings and appendixes. Conclusions are grouped under (1) training practices and trainee attitudes, (2) associations and relationships, and (3) qualitative…

Features of Peace Corps language training programs are described with special emphasis on new approaches. The structure of a typical, minimal 300-hour program (4-6 hours per day) is contrasted with a new and very intensive program of instruction 8 hours a day. The increased need for two-language programs is explained. All programs require…