A study of distance education opportunities for second language learning in the Central States region, especially in the less commonly taught languages (LCTLs), investigated the need for such instruction, available technologies, and instructional course design. The first section examines the implications of distance language instruction for the region and the nature of involvement within major language education groups. The second section, which concerns instructional technologies, details the role and limitations of technology in second language instruction (including instructional materials, equipment, funding, and training issues), types of available technologies, functions of transmission networks, and the advantages and disadvantages of distance education in language instruction. The third section outlines issues in distance education course design in the areas of analysis (needs assessment, analysis of learner characteristics, task/content analysis, and instructional objectives), course design and development (preparation, presentation, participation, practice with feedback, and performance assessment), implementation (logistics and learner support), and evaluation (components, data collection and analysis). Contains 45 references. Substantial supporting materials are appended. (MSE)