This paper provides a survey of the field of the teaching of Portuguese as of 1969 based on material gathered by the author for the Luso-Brazilian Studies Survey. A general increase in enrollment and in the number of institutions teaching Portuguese on all levels of education is noted. Nineteen elementary schools, 44 high schools and an estimated…

The German department of the University of California at Berkeley initiated this year a new series of programs for beginning and intermediate students, partially in response to the abolition of the foreign language requirement. This report describes the four options called: (1) the Basic Course, (2) the Intensive Course, (3) the Course Emphasizing…

This survey of language enrollment trends during a period from 1966 through 1970 at the University of Washington, Washington State University, Washington four-year state colleges, Washington four-year private colleges and universities, Washington community colleges, and public and secondary schools in the State of Washington concentrates on…

A survey administered to 53 African American freshmen at Hampton University (Virginia), a private historically black institution, gathered information on attitudes toward the learning of foreign languages in general and toward German second language learning specifically. Only two respondents had studied two or more years of German in high school,…

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…

Focuses on foreign language teaching in higher education in China. Topics include political difficulties resulting from the Cultural Revolution, the return of the first group of foreign teachers to China in 1977, and current foreign language programs. Although foreign language teaching in China is advancing, better teachers and equipment are…

College language departments report that, although enrollments in Spanish and some Pacific Rim languages are growing rapidly, declines are seen in French and German, traditionally popular, and in many less commonly taught languages. Students are motivated by practical considerations: many find their employment potential is increased by language…

Discusses growing enrollments in foreign languages at Spelman College, a small language arts college for African American women in Atlanta, Georgia. Attributes the growing enrollments to the willingness of faculty to attend to student needs, interests, and specific black heritage. Suggests strategies for attracting students of color to languages…

Results of a national survey on foreign language enrollments in United States public secondary schools are summarized. Aggregate data are provided for fall 1989, and more detailed data are included for fall 1990. Data indicate a 4.5% increase in secondary school language enrollments nationally since 1985. The increase for high schools alone was…

A new major at the University of Scranton (Pennsylvania), International Language/Business (IL/Bus), is described that first accepted students in 1986. This foreign language major of 27 credits, with a concentration in business was modeled on two cooperative programs between the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Management that were…

Data from the Illinois Census of Secondary School Course Offerings for 1981-82 show that the traditional nature of foreign language study continues relatively unchanged. Students typically begin language study in high school and must take only two years of a language. While the availability of foreign languages in high schools was the same in…

Following a brief review of the history of interest in foreign languages in America, facts to be considered when interpreting falling enrollment statistics, such as a drop in the birth rate, are discussed. It is stressed that foreign language teaching cannot be neglected in a world having improved and extensive communication between people…

This report presents the conclusions and recommendations of a residential colloquium concerning modern languages for the 1980's, attended by 70 representatives of various sectors and levels of the educational system. The colloquium was a response to widespread concern about the crisis in language learning in the United Kingdom. The colloquium…

This report, based on the findings of the report of the President's Commission on Foreign Languages and International Studies, outlines recommendations, remedies, and proposals of measures to counteract foreign language illiteracy. The discussion is divided into seven sections: (1) some of the commission's recommendations that pertain to high…

Foreign language graduate assistants usually lack adequate teaching experience, yet must somehow repay their university for assistantships needed to remain in school. Such neophyte teachers rarely inspire students to continue language study. But the more experienced staff must teach upper-division courses for these same students and the graduate…