The Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program provides funds to institutions of higher education, a consortia of such institutions, or partnerships between nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education to plan, develop, and implement programs that strengthen and improve undergraduate instruction in…

After nearly half a century of authoritarianism characterized by Chinese nationalism and Mandarin promotion, democratization in 1990s Taiwan was accompanied by a Taiwanization movement featuring calls for the revitalization of local languages and the promotion of linguistic equality. To that end, the government began planning for local language…

In countries where English is a second language, there has been a movement over the last 60 years from supporting indigenous languages over foreign language--English--to the present one where, with globalization and market demands, English is beginning to be seen as an indigenous language in itself. The teaching of English from Grade 1 about five…

This article features the Foreign Language Assistance Program, also known as FLAP, which holds the distinction as the only federally funded program that exclusively targets foreign language instruction in elementary and secondary schools. Funded under Title V of No Child Left Behind, FLAP provides 3-year grants to states and local school districts…

Foreign language teaching has been playing a dominant role in China's curriculum reform, especially in the present globalization of Chinese society and economy. However, the insufficient research into foreign language teaching and blindly adopting western theory demand China learn from its own experience and also develop western foreign language…

Discusses a four-year project now in the second year at Earlham College to increase the use both by faculty and students of foreign languages. Provides the background to the project, the detailed objectives, and abbreviated comments on accomplishments to date. (EKN)

The characteristics of linguistically gifted students are classified into four areas: language traits, conceptualization traits, socialization traits, and productivity traits. Curricular modifications to meet the needs of linguistically gifted students involve changes in the content, process, product, and learning environment. (JDD)

Whether by incorporating the study of other nations and cultures into the school curriculum, requiring students to learn foreign languages, or encouraging cross-cultural exchanges, countries around the world are preparing their students for life in the global era. Vivien Stewart describes efforts in Europe, Australia, and Asia and assesses how the…

Recognizing that the task of those who teach the humanities is now to identify the common ground on which persons can gather to make responsible judgments about the quality of life in light of past traditions and the competing demands of the future, this collection of essays explores the changing definition of humanistic studies and their current…

The Standards of Learning in this publication represent a major development in public education in Virginia. Adopted in February 2007 by the Virginia Board of Education, these standards emphasize the importance of foreign language instruction in the Commonwealth and, therefore, are an important part of Virginia's efforts to provide challenging…

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside offered an experimental course on international business in seminar form as a means of trying an interdisciplinary venture in a new area without commitment to a course structure. The seminar was developed as part of the international studies program, which draws on existing courses in several disciplines, and…

The origins and design of a framework for Japanese second language instruction and curriculum development, created for use in international schools in Japan, are described. The effort was part of a Japanese Language Project undertaken by the Japanese Council for International Schools and funded by the Japanese Ministry of Education. The guiding…

A strategy for expanding business foreign language course offerings at the college level is described. At one institution this involves adding a business component to some sections of three language courses: second-semester intermediate level; third-year composition; and contemporary culture and civilization seminar. Content is concentrated in…

The processes and outcomes of the first stage in developing a new vocational education and training curriculum in Poland are discussed. Origins of the change initiative, the system context, and the role of the committee charged with setting standards and evaluating the curriculum are outlined. Implications for modern language training,…

In an effort to expand the teaching of culture related to the French language, a high school French teacher undertook a project to teach francophone culture in countries other than France. The report begins with an extensive discussion and review of literature concerning the extent and diversity of the francophone world, the role of cultural…