The author looks at programmed learning in foreign languages from outside the university, from outside formal education, and from outside foreign language instruction itself. He examines it as a corporation executive would, asking whether this means of instruction can develop the skills his employee needs in a foreign country and whether it can do it autonomously (without an instructor). The program examined is Mueller and Niedzielski's "Basic French." The author feels that this is "truly programmed to the extent that it can serve as instructor in French to isolated persons," but he does not intend "to imply that it seems to be as good as it can be made, even now." (DO)