The 264 abstracts in this compilation describe opinions and realities of the foreign language requirement in American colleges and universities. Included are surveys and statistical data on language enrollments; arguments for and against the study of foreign languages; the relationship of second language acquisition to the national interest;…

A 1996-97 survey of 1,534 elementary and 1,650 secondary schools across the United States, both public and private, investigated current patterns in foreign language enrollment, languages and programs offered, curriculum design and content, teaching methods, teacher qualifications and training, and response to national reform issues. The study was…

This paper compares two sets of data from the same year, 2001--the numbers of students taking languages other than English at primary and secondary level, and census statistics for the home use of languages other than English. The data draws attention to languages that are taught principally in day schools and those taken mainly in after hours…

This document is the result of two years of intensive, dedicated work by a remarkable team of nearly two dozen researchers. It takes the first steps on a long overdue journey to fully understanding the realities and promise of ESL program service in community colleges across the nation. The report offers an in-depth look into several community…

For a less commonly taught (LCT) language to thrive in a high school curriculum, issues of support and accessibility must be addressed. Counselors, administrators, and teachers must work together to show students that these are not difficult languages. Designing the programs for "gifted and talented" students unfairly excludes many capable ones,…

The assessment and placement of language minority students remain among the most serious problems facing schools today. As of 1990, 14 percent of the school-aged population in the United States comes from language minority backgrounds. Significant numbers of these students are not being properly identified by educators. Assessment procedures in a…

The survey, using data gathered from state foreign language association presidents and state foreign language supervisors and a number of other sources, investigated issues in professional development for language teachers. Forty-six out of 50 states responded to the survey, but not all of the states responded to each quotation. The survey…

This study of the importance of second language and international studies in Illinois in relation to the interests of the state covers the following topics: the importance of second language and international studies, characteristics of effective programs in second language and international studies, the status of those studies in Illinois, and…

A survey of 1,027 chairpersons of foreign language departments in all Central States region two- and four-year colleges reveals encouraging news about the state of foreign language programs as perceived by administrators, but mixed results regarding issues affecting faculty and administrators. Respondents (N=304) expressed a high degree of…

Data from a national survey of colleges and universities with foreign language programs revealed an increase of 4.5% in total foreign language registrations between 1980 and 1983, the first general increase noted since 1968. Registrations increased by over 10% in Chinese, Italian, Japanese, and Russian. French, Spanish, German, and the aggregate…

A transcript is provided of a radio program broadcast February 24, 1978, on the state of foreign language education. The participants in the discussion were leaders in the field, teachers and students from many parts of the United States and from all educational levels. The subjects covered are: some problems facing foreign language programs; the…

The fact that a relatively large segment of the secondary school population chooses to learn a second language, for reasons other than entrance requirements, has implications for foreign language curriculum planners. As part of an initial step in planning new syllabi, the Curriculum Advisory Committee of the New York State Education Department…

Twelve articles offer a sampling of a wide variety of interrelated studies, reports, and recommendations on international education. They all relate to that aspect of the educational system in the United States devoted to studying, writing, and teaching about other parts of the world. A key article discusses the findings and recommendations of the…

An argument for counseling college-bound students in the senior year of high school rather than in the freshman year in college concentrates on: (1) adequate description of the languages taught in colleges, (2) importance of various languages in career planning, (3) identification of student linguistic potential, (4) study of a third language in…

The nationwide need for maintenance of skills programs for students who discontinue their language studies 1-3 years before college is explained. Figures based on a national questionnaire identify the extent of this need, and possible program objectives and structure are suggested. Major attention is directed to such student activities as…