Describes the process of restructuring departments at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, and its effects on the foreign language department, international center, and intensive English language program. Discusses problems associated with both the lengthy process and the resulting structure, the home for eleven separate units with distinct…

Suggesting that foreign-language literature classes often teach over the heads of students, argues that foreign-language literary texts be taught not as finished works of art but instead as culture-in-process, focusing on the creative-performance approach to the dramatic text within the context of a foreign-language teacher practicum. (MSE)

Discussion of the role of literature in the college second-language program, and in liberal arts education in general, argues that it is an ethical obligation to teach literary competence, or literary sensitivity, in the language of the author, because the "great books" are those that combine stylistic refinement with deep insight into the human…

Suggests that the notion of near-native language ability, as currently used in the language teaching profession, should be re-examined. The concept of native speech is complex and often idealized, involving not only a teacher's language skills but also sociocultural norms, peer perceptions, and attitudes about ethnic or regional usage. The concept…

Teaching foreign-language literature in translation, within the foreign language department, has intellectual and pragmatic justifications. Intellectually, it is a source of joy for language faculty to share target language literature, and it is the thematic components, not language, that offer richest discussion. Practically, students don't have…

Project Genexus is an initiative to provide critical information and mentoring to new faculty members, aiding in the transition from graduate student to professor by conferring on teaching and other professional interests, connecting with experienced mentors, and building a support community through computer conferencing and an Internet listserv.…

Discussion of Northern Arizona University's experience with implementation of distance education for upper-level language courses looks at problems encountered and solutions adopted in the areas of communication of assignments and exams, out-of-class interaction of teachers and students, classroom configuration, equipment reliability, scheduling,…

A national survey of German professors in the United States investigated their ideas of appropriate or desirable graduate preparation for careers in the field of German. Based on the results, eight recommendations are made to graduate students in German concerning the language-teaching profession and the need to consider alternative career paths.…

Five brief essays are presented in response to an earlier article on leadership in college foreign-language departments. They address issues of curriculum redesign, pedagogical change, the nature of language teaching, the professional identity of language teachers, the role of professional organizations, and the traditional departmental model. A…

The formation of cooperative programs in the French and German departments of Northern State University (South Dakota), South Dakota State University, and the University of South Dakota is described, including language enrollment trends, state-level expectations and directives, curriculum restructuring, introduction of new technologies, and…