Details of a circular distributed in November 1969 by the National Minister of Education of France proposing some controversial changes in the instruction of modern languages are reported in this paper. The principal changes allow students wider choice in determining whether to study one or more languages during the same period of time. German, English, Spanish, Italian, and Russian are to be offered beginning with the sixth level in each of 408 school districts. Some statistical data on teacher recruitment and language popularity are included. (RL)