This paper describes the evolution of African language instruction at the University of Wisconsin, examining how faculty and staff have utilized state and federal funding to promote the national capacity in African language proficiency. Six sections describe the program's evolution: "Language Instruction at Wisconsin"; "Origins of…

Since the enactment of the 1958 National Defense Education Act, funded universities have provided African language instruction at the postsecondary level. With an increased interest in the less commonly taught languages (LCT) demonstrated by the 1988 Foreign Language Assistance Act, several African Studies Center universities provide instruction…

The promotion of foreign language instruction and learning has been the objective of three national legislative acts: National Defense Education Act, Foreign Language Assistance Act, and National Security Education Act. Following these enactments, the Department of Education and the Department of Defense have dispensed appropriations to meet the…