Laments the lack of institutional commitment to language learning in most colleges and universities. To improve the situation, suggests the introduction, in selected departments, of substantive courses where students are encouraged or required to use their language skills, and evaluation of performance in the course replaces proficiency exams.…

Discusses how foreign language departments can lead in the development of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary curricula because of their vast experience with multidisciplinary work. Particular focus is on the less commonly taught languages, which offer rich and neglected academic resources that can help demystify foreign cultures and diversify…

Urges foreign language departments at colleges and universities to take advantage of what is new--student demographics, academic preparation, the position of the humanities in society--and regard it as an opportunity to rethink the curriculum. Provides a six-stage outline of the process, from taking stock of what faculty members and their fields…

Examines the needs and concerns of college faculty members regarding the departmental ambience in undergraduate teaching and the difficulty of integrating research and teaching. The article advocates interdepartmental cooperation and resource sharing to foster positive change in faculty members' fields and to resolve the problems of faculty and…

A rationale is presented for improving the curricular design of intermediate- or advanced-level writing classes for foreign language majors. Seven practical guidelines include the following: the writing course should have its own place in the curriculum but should not stand alone as the sole undergraduate writing experience in the second language.…

The predicament of foreign languages in a liberal arts setting is addressed. It is suggested that bilingual language competency cannot be realized without an extraordinary increase in foreign language instruction and second-culture instruction: an extra year of undergraduate study combined with study abroad. (32 references) (LB)

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…

Analyzes and criticizes the most prominent characteristics of current college language programs. On this basis, sketches a language program model featuring emphasis on linguistic rather than literary scholarship and on non-European rather than European languages, integration with international studies disciplines, and close cooperation between…

Argues that, although it is worthwhile to teach literature in its original language, there is merit to teaching foreign language literature in translation. Most college-level language teachers have the language competence to teach literature in English, and if it's not taught in the language department, it may be taught in the English department,…

Examines challenges facing scholarship in cultural fields at the university level. These challenges include economic concerns, political hostility, and a change in the status of foreign literatures. Departments of foreign languages and literatures must redefine their goal as foreign cultural literacy in order to remain viable. (nine references)…

Considers whether college foreign language programs are truly victims of outside forces or have neglected taking responsibility for their fate. Explores the internal status of the language and literature curricula, public perceptions of them, how institutions have tried to "solve" language department problems by restructuring them, and how…

The 1987-89 survey represents the Modern Language Association's first effort to collect information from the stratified random sample of foreign language programs established in 1988. Topics include requirements, faculty characteristics, language coordinator functions, faculty role in governance, curricula, course offerings, enrollment, numbers of…

Analyzes 15 ongoing foreign language program articulation projects that demonstrate what can be accomplished toward establishing coherent sequences, goals, and assessments. (51 references) (CK)

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…