ERIC Number: ED161244
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1974
Pages: 26
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Realities Facing the Profession. Responding to New Realities. ACTFL Review of Foreign Language Education, Vol. 5.
Levy, Stephen L.
This consideration of the foreign language profession concerns goals and objectives of foreign language education, student and community attitudes, college foreign language requirements, enrollment, financial allocations, professional insularity, teaching and learning strategies, materials and technology, testing, and staffing. Goals have been redesigned to meet the needs of students of all academic backgrounds. Decreased enrollments are a result of the trend toward the abolition or reduction of foreign language requirements. Spanish continues to be the language with the largest enrollments. Enrollments in less commonly taught languages, such as Chinese, Hebrew, Japanese, and Portuguese, have increased. The base and role of foreign language instruction have been broadened to include interdisciplinary courses, bilingual programs, and career education that includes foreign language study. However, there is a lack of articulation between school levels and programs in foreign language study, and languages are isolated from other curricular areas. A strong national organization of foreign language teachers of all languages at all levels is needed to improve interest in foreign language study. Focus on the student through individualized instruction and personalization will strengthen the teaching of foreign languages. (SW)
Descriptors: Accountability, Articulation (Education), Community Attitudes, Educational Objectives, Educational Trends, Elementary Secondary Education, Enrollment Influences, Higher Education, Individualized Instruction, Instructional Materials, Language Enrollment, Language Instruction, Language Programs, Language Teachers, Language Tests, Literature Reviews, Second Language Learning, Student Attitudes, Student Needs, Trend Analysis
Not Available Separately; See FL 009 607
Publication Type: Reference Materials - Bibliographies
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, New York, NY.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A