Investigating students' needs in three foreign language departments in a liberal arts college setting, the study discussed in this article aims to find similarities and differences in language needs among students enrolled in French, German, and Spanish and the extent to which students' perceived needs match the mission the departments have…

This study presents statistical information by state on the major languages being studied in secondary schools. Enrollments by language in Spanish, German, Italian, Russian, Latin, and Ancient Greek, and other modern foreign languages are illustrated in three charts. These include: (1) enrollments and percent 1958-62 (Grades 9-12); (2) percent of…

Noting a 14.3 percent decline in student enrollment in college German-language programs between the fall terms of 1968 and 1970, an analysis of the situation is developed and proposals for reversing the trend are outlined. Six major sections discuss: (1) the sad evidence of figures and what they mean for German, (2) the foreign language crisis…

The German department of the University of California at Berkeley initiated this year a new series of programs for beginning and intermediate students, partially in response to the abolition of the foreign language requirement. This report describes the four options called: (1) the Basic Course, (2) the Intensive Course, (3) the Course Emphasizing…

A survey administered to 53 African American freshmen at Hampton University (Virginia), a private historically black institution, gathered information on attitudes toward the learning of foreign languages in general and toward German second language learning specifically. Only two respondents had studied two or more years of German in high school,…

College language departments report that, although enrollments in Spanish and some Pacific Rim languages are growing rapidly, declines are seen in French and German, traditionally popular, and in many less commonly taught languages. Students are motivated by practical considerations: many find their employment potential is increased by language…

Results of a national survey on foreign language enrollments in United States public secondary schools are summarized. Aggregate data are provided for fall 1989, and more detailed data are included for fall 1990. Data indicate a 4.5% increase in secondary school language enrollments nationally since 1985. The increase for high schools alone was…

The foreign language program in the Edison, New Jersey public schools is described. The exemplary features of this program are: (1) It is not limited to college-bound students, (2) a significant provision is made for program advocacy, and (3) there are full four- and six-year sequences in French, Spanish, and German. (PMJ)

This is a report on foreign language enrollment in qrades 9-12 in Indiana for the year 1978-1979. The tables qive the following information: (1) a ten year review of foreign language enrollments in Indiana, grades 9-12; (2) the total enrollments for the years 1976-1979 in all foreign languages; (3) the enrollment patterns by levels for the same…

A redesign of the basic foreign language courses at the University of Michigan--Flint, stimulated by a need for improved enrollment and retention and for more language majors, had the result of improving faculty cooperation and teaching. Before the curriculum development effort, the program reflected individual faculty preferences and…

This study of college language registration and student contact hours presents data for all foreign languages taught in colleges and universities. The body of the report consists of 24 tables, in which the data are summarized, and a directory of the 2,149 institutions that reported registrations in one or more foreign languages. It is the first in…

This study of language instruction in junior colleges presents data for all foreign languages taught at some 490 schools. The principal languages covered in the survey are French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Russian. The body of the report consists of six charts which cover percent of enrollments by language (Fall 1961) and enrollment by…

Both declining second-language enrollments in colleges and universities and the rapid metamorphosis of higher education are linked to the end of the Cold War. The strong state as the protector of the university's relative independence has ended, and the business sector is the new standard for measuring performance. In this context, German…

A national survey of German professors in the United States investigated their ideas of appropriate or desirable graduate preparation for careers in the field of German. Based on the results, eight recommendations are made to graduate students in German concerning the language-teaching profession and the need to consider alternative career paths.…

This paper explores enrollment for foreign language programs (FLPs) in French, Spanish, and German using data collected from students in Grades 7 through 12 in the Grand Blanc Community School District (Michigan) for the 1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91, and 1992-93 school years. Research questions address: (1) enrollment figures, (2) loss rates…