In today's interconnected world, many career fields--such as diplomacy, national security, and business--need individuals with knowledge about world languages and cultures. To address these areas of needed expertise--both at the federal level as well as in the education, business, and nonprofit sectors--the Higher Education Act of 1965, as…

Graduate education in the humanities struggles with weighty traditions, constrained (fiscal) resources, and a legacy of elitism and cultural homogeneity. As the makeup of graduate students becomes ever more diverse in terms of income, ethnicity, sexuality, citizenship, and disability, graduate programs are working through the challenges and…

Since 1958, the Modern Language Association (MLA), with the continuous support of the United States Department of Education, has gathered and analyzed data on undergraduate and graduate course enrollments in languages other than English in United States colleges and universities. The previous survey examined language enrollments in fall 2006; here…

Uses data from a survey of 326 centers of foreign language education to discuss (1) what kinds of courses and specializations are being offered, (2) how the curriculum is meeting the changing needs of the nation, and (3) what future development can be realistically anticipated. (EKN)

This report presents the results of a systematic survey of the field of Japanese studies in the United States conducted during a period of eighteen months prior to 1970. The objectives of the report were: (1) to provide a fuller understanding of the contours of the field; (2) to offer documentation on the identity of scholars at work in the field;…

Twenty figures and tables illustrate the findings of the Modern Language Association's survey of doctoral graduate placements. Areas covered include PhD degrees granted, placement of 1991-92 PhDs, changes through time, and placement for individual degree programs. (three references) (LB)

Curricular changes at all levels of foreign language education provide alternate ways to provide valid learning experiences. There is new freedom for students to explore varying time arrangements, different learning styles, diverse content, and various locations for instruction. A discussion of student learning styles concerns individualization,…

A study was undertaken to assess the adequacy of current Master's and doctoral English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and applied linguistics program curricula in preparing administrators acquainted with administrative theories. Secondary objectives were to determine the appropriateness of such programs in preparing students for teaching, research,…

A 1993 national survey investigated the attitudes of current directors and coordinators of college and university English-as-a-Second-Language programs (n=100) concerning the effectiveness of graduate programs in training them for their professional and administrative responsibilities. Results indicate that graduates of these graduate programs…

A survey of 1,027 chairpersons of foreign language departments in all Central States region two- and four-year colleges reveals encouraging news about the state of foreign language programs as perceived by administrators, but mixed results regarding issues affecting faculty and administrators. Respondents (N=304) expressed a high degree of…

A study at Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), in response to administrator and employer concerns about the quality of English second language instruction, investigated aspects of language program design. Concerns had been expressed about the level of English language skills among science and engineering graduates. The survey consisted of…