Current attitudes within the foreign language profession at large are assessed, and some attempts to meet the common problems are described. The need for promoting and improving a public image in all areas outside the profession and informing the community about foreign language educational goals is an overriding problem. In addition to publicity achieved through a wide variety of public events, more foreign language educators are seeking ways to have feature articles included in educational and trade journals. Foreign language teachers are also demonstrating greater aggressiveness in their immediate dealings with both guidance personnel and with administrators. More support to foreign languages needs to be given from within the profession itself; a positive action to deal with this problem is to provide more services to members and to identify activities which would make membership more attractive. Colleges and universities in some states play an important role in support of foreign languages by serving as communications centers and as focal points of activities in their region. Between the university and secondary schools and within the university community itself there exists a polarization of attitudes regarding curriculum content and future directions for foreign languages. Career education is occupying a growing place in foreign language curricula, and literature has been central to foreign language study. Directions of foreign language study, including the "back to basics" thrust, are discussed. (SW)