Major efforts have been made in the United States during the last 15 years to develop high quality programs for the teaching of African languages. These efforts are encountering increasing difficulties which are largely a function of a variety of special problems affecting the teaching of African languages. All of these problems contribute to…

THIS PHASE OF A SURVEY OF EXISTING RUSSIAN LANGUAGE PROGRAMS DURING ACADEMIC YEAR 1966-67 INCLUDES ONLY DATA RELEVANT TO HIGHER INSTITUTIONS. IN ADDITION TO IDENTIFYING THE INSTITUTIONS THAT OFFERED RUSSIAN DURING THAT PERIOD, DATA ARRANGED IN TABLES REVEAL WHERE UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE PROGRAMS EXIST, AND GIVE NUMERICAL SUMMARIES, BY STATE, OF…

As part of the Goals Clarification topic of the 1975 Northeast Conference, a workshop entitled "The Non-Major Foreign Language Student" was presented. This article contains the workshop's most salient ideas, presented at a time when foreign-language study is in considerable jeopardy at all levels. Offerings are being limited, and highly qualified…

This paper provides a survey of the field of the teaching of Portuguese as of 1969 based on material gathered by the author for the Luso-Brazilian Studies Survey. A general increase in enrollment and in the number of institutions teaching Portuguese on all levels of education is noted. Nineteen elementary schools, 44 high schools and an estimated…

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…

This survey of language enrollment trends during a period from 1966 through 1970 at the University of Washington, Washington State University, Washington four-year state colleges, Washington four-year private colleges and universities, Washington community colleges, and public and secondary schools in the State of Washington concentrates on…

Following a brief review of the history of interest in foreign languages in America, facts to be considered when interpreting falling enrollment statistics, such as a drop in the birth rate, are discussed. It is stressed that foreign language teaching cannot be neglected in a world having improved and extensive communication between people…

This report presents the conclusions and recommendations of a residential colloquium concerning modern languages for the 1980's, attended by 70 representatives of various sectors and levels of the educational system. The colloquium was a response to widespread concern about the crisis in language learning in the United Kingdom. The colloquium…

Foreign language graduate assistants usually lack adequate teaching experience, yet must somehow repay their university for assistantships needed to remain in school. Such neophyte teachers rarely inspire students to continue language study. But the more experienced staff must teach upper-division courses for these same students and the graduate…

This report presents the results of the ninth survey of foreign language entrance and degree requirements in United States colleges and universities that grant a bachelor of arts degree. The survey was conducted in 1974 by the Modern Language Association, and was directed at foreign language department chairmen. Responses were received from 98.8…

The interrelatedness of job security for language teachers and student enrollment in foreign language courses is discussed. The decline in student interest and enrollment in language programs is traced to several sources including: (1) the "let's-teach-only-the-best-kids" syndrome, (2) the continuity myth, and (3) the…

Presents some of the factors responsible for increased foreign language enrollments at one university. (AM)

A discussion of Chinese instruction in a Bordeaux lycee. Specific questions addressed are: enrollment; reasons for studying Chinese; the study of the written and spoken language; the need for an appropriate textbook; teaching culture; and the need to organize Chinese as a regular course in the curriculum. (AMH)

This paper outlines both negative and affirmative approaches to the issue of whether the public should be aware of a foreign language program. The negative approach would consider the diminishing demand for foreign languages for basic communicative needs in the United States and the conviction on the part of the public that it only needs one…

This is a summary of a roundtable on Chinese language teaching which focused on the history and present status of Chinese programs at institutions represented by the discussants. Discussion centered around the following points: (1) types of students taking Chinese; (2) methodology; (3) enrollment; and (4) career opportunities. A paper is also…