The author reviews some of the research which he has conducted on the role of the parent in the language-learning situation. While most of this research has not dealt with English as a second language, it is suggested that the observed phenomenon is as relevant to the ESL program as to any other second-language situation. The author summarizes his views as follows: (1) Attitudinal motivational characteristics of the student are important in the acquisition of a second language. (2) The nature of these characteristics suggests that the truly successful student (i.e., the one who will acquire communicational facility with the language) is motivated to become integrated with the other language community. (3) Th"s integrative motive appears to derive from the attitudinal characteristics in the home and must be fostered by an accepting attitude, by the parents, concerning the other language group. (4) The process of second-language acquisition involves the child both in taking on behavioral characteristics of the other language community, and in experiencing resistance from himself and pressures from his own cultural community. (Author/AMM)