Current trends and issues in second language education are summarized to provide background data for discussion in these areas: language use patterns in Canada and in the world; language education in Canada, with a focus on Alberta's situation (federal and provincial roles in multicultural education and second language study throughout Canada, and…

The Upper Arlington, Ohio school reorganization, in 1983, to include a middle school resulted in the development of a seventh-grade foreign language exploration course. The course provides nine weeks each of French, German, and Spanish, and relates the languages to content areas using an interdisciplinary approach. The fourth nine weeks would be…

A 1994 study investigated foreign language instruction in the elementary schools (FLES) in Austin, Texas. Data were drawn from telephone interviews with school personnel, from documents and records at the state department of education, and from visits to schools offering FLES instruction. The report presents information on the seven school…

A discussion of foreign languages in elementary schools (FLES) includes both historical and current overviews of FLES in the United States and makes recommendations for development of FLES programs. The historical review looks at program design and methods during the 1950s and 1960s and the successes and failures of program types and approaches.…

Designed to inform the profession about foreign language programs, methods, schedules, enrollments, and trends on Long Island, this report of a survey conducted in 1968 in 60 school districts, the Diocese of Brooklyn, and three parochial schools updates information gathered in a similar survey made in 1966. After a brief analysis under the general…

Described in this speech are five growing FLES programs in the State of Washington that reflect in their distinctive structural and content patterns the particular philosophy of the different school districts in which each has developed. In each description mention is made of (1) enrollment and district participation figures, (2) grades included…

An overview of empirical research conducted in Canada's core French language programs addresses eight major areas: (1) program characteristics and outcomes, (2) program supplements, (3) student characteristics, (4) enrollment influences, (5) teacher characteristics, (6) public opinion, (7) program implementation and administration, and (8)…

A 1996-97 survey of 1,534 elementary and 1,650 secondary schools across the United States, both public and private, investigated current patterns in foreign language enrollment, languages and programs offered, curriculum design and content, teaching methods, teacher qualifications and training, and response to national reform issues. The study was…

This study of the importance of second language and international studies in Illinois in relation to the interests of the state covers the following topics: the importance of second language and international studies, characteristics of effective programs in second language and international studies, the status of those studies in Illinois, and…

A survey of 1,027 chairpersons of foreign language departments in all Central States region two- and four-year colleges reveals encouraging news about the state of foreign language programs as perceived by administrators, but mixed results regarding issues affecting faculty and administrators. Respondents (N=304) expressed a high degree of…

A national survey of state foreign language supervisors gathered information on any significant change in second language instruction in their states. Surveys from 30 states were returned. Topic areas included: (1) the impact of systemic reform during 1995; (2) federal funding for standards and reform, and whether or not second language programs…

An evaluation of the foreign language programs of the Des Moines (Iowa) Public Schools is presented. It is divided into six ares: (1) Introduction; (2) Context Evaluation; (3) Input Evaluation; (4) Process Evaluation; (5) Product Evaluation; and (6) the Future. Sections include: a statement of program mission and philosophy; notes on the context…

The report presents results of a 1996 national survey of New Zealand concerning the provision of Maori language instruction at all levels (early childhood, elementary (primary), secondary, and postsecondary (tertiary)), enrollment rates, student characteristics, and teacher characteristics and qualifications. Data are organized in these…

A 1996-97 national survey of elementary and secondary schools investigated current patterns and shifts in foreign language enrollment, languages and programs offered, teaching methodologies, teacher qualifications and training, and reactions to national reform issues. An introductory section of the survey report offers background information on…

The Des Moines (Iowa) Public Schools foreign language program for K-12 is described and evaluated. The evaluation report focuses on six areas, including: (1) school district mission and philosophy of foreign language instruction; (2) context (state policies and standards, foreign language program overview and enrollment, fiber-optic communication…