The Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) commissioned this Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) with a view to understanding what is known from the research literature concerning learning a foreign language (FL) and its impact on students' wider academic outcomes. The key questions addressed examine: (1) the research identifying what approaches to…

Reviews the present situation of foreign languages in the U.S. and discusses the prospects for their future. Sees reasons for believing that the near future may bring a resurgence of interest in at least some modern languages and advocates intimate knowledge of a foreign language and culture for its humanistic value. (MES)

An exploration of the reasons for the failure of former elementary school foreign language programs precedes the identification of issues that should be addressed to ensure the effectiveness of current and future programs. The three basic FLES program models, Foreign Language Experience (FLEX), sequential FLES, and immersion, are described. (CB)

Explores the relationship between foreign language and international studies, focusing on the resulting closer connection between language, content, and context in foreign language departments and courses; cross-cultural components, traditional foreign language instruction, and courses emphasizing cultural awareness. (CB)

Presents the results of a study of student perspectives on the state of the art of undergraduate courses in French culture taught in American colleges and universities. Results from 28 questions are reviewed. The questions deal with the student's profiles, knowledge of facts, and their opinions about France and French. (28 references) (GLR)

Problems which college level foreign language instruction must attack are cultural inertia fostered by the rise of English as the world lingua franca; pressure to include more languages and subjects in higher education; subordination of the field to the interest of social sciences; and inroads of "general literature" into the place of primary…

Cross-cultural competence is a recent movement with important implications for foreign language teaching, schools of business and economics, and firms engaged in either international or national commerce. Until now, it has not been adequately addressed. Higher education must investigate strategies for more effective integration of culture into the…

Documents in the ERIC databases dealing with multicultural education and teacher preparation are listed. The documents report on multicultural education efforts at teacher training institutions that involve study abroad, community-based projects, ethnic studies programs, language immersion activities, and strategies for integrating multicultural…

As in other countries, German Studies in Canada is facing an existential crisis. Because of the changes in this discipline, one must seriously think in Canada as well about how it can and should go forward. Discusses aspects of the "German Studies Program," which offers an alternative and which has been introduced in the last four years…

Describes the revision of the program of study for foreign language majors at Bates College (Maine). The strengthening of the college's literature component and cultural studies are recommended for other small, liberal arts colleges. (CB)

Canadian research relevant to French immersion program development in Ontario is reviewed and summarized. The review includes studies on six program or instructional aspects: (1) attitudes and motivation of immersion students and parents; (2) achievement of immersion students in English language arts and other subjects; (3) French proficiency and…

Recommendations for integrating instruction in business and foreign languages to prepare future business workers to deal with increasing need for international business-related exchange include: exchange with business instructors abroad; insight into other countries' cultural traditions; and exposure to native speakers. (CB)