ERIC Number: ED355805
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 1992
Pages: 24
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Foreign Language Planning in the United States. NFLC Occasional Papers.
Lambert, Richard D.
A discussion of national language policy and planning in the United States begins with a brief examination of the de facto policy currently at work and lack of government initiative in establishing and meeting priorities in language education. It then focuses on three policy issues currently facing the American foreign language teaching system. The first is the choice of which languages to offer, including specific concerns about introduction of less commonly taught languages and the federal government's strategy for investing in language education through legislation such as Title VI of the Higher Education Act. The second issue is the amount of language training needed and articulation among levels of instruction. This broad issue includes increasing the number of individuals exposed to language training, the length of training they receive, and transitions between stages of training, especially elementary-to-secondary and secondary-to-higher education. The third issue discussed is the need for consistent measures to assess student progress, provide information to improve instruction, and certify achievement and competency. Policy initiatives for each issue are examined. (MSE)
Descriptors: Articulation (Education), Elementary Secondary Education, Federal Legislation, Government Role, Higher Education, Language Enrollment, Language Planning, Language Role, Language Tests, Policy Formation, Public Policy, Second Language Instruction, Second Languages, Testing, Time Factors (Learning), Uncommonly Taught Languages
National Foreign Language Center, Johns Hopkins University, 1619 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036 ($5 prepaid).
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Johns Hopkins Univ., Washington, DC. National Foreign Language Center.
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Higher Education Act Title VI
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A