A survey of the Language Program Coordinator (LPC) role in higher education deals with conditions of employment, professional training, support for professional development and research, the nature of the LPC's responsibilities, his or her relationship to other members of language departments, and professional status. (17 references) (CP)

Discusses some common misconceptions about foreign language learning and the foreign language teaching profession. Lists some basic needs for the profession if language education is to continue to be developed and promoted. (EKN)

Points out that foreign language departments, divisions, and programs should heed their own advice when communicating with the administration in academic institutions and government: speak the language, follow the customs, and know the culture and its signs. (EKN)

A historical review of the establishment of the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages and its bulletin highlights both the changes that have occurred and are continuing to occur in the foreign language profession and the association's focus on covering the multifaceted perspectives and needs of the profession. (CB)

It is noted that language teaching in literature departments in many colleges and universities does not confer the same benefits or offer the same rewards as teaching literature. The problems this imbalance creates in academic rigor and continuity and the questions addressing why this is imbalance exists are discussed. (GLR)

Suggestions are offered for individuals involved in a job search for teaching positions in foreign language departments and who are planning interviews at the Modern Language Association convention. (LB)

A selective chronology outlines events affecting foreign language education in the United States and the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages between 1952 and 1988. Three historical trends involving professional unity across language lines, greater professionalization and accountability, and greater public visibility are discussed. (CB)

Suggests meaningful reward structures and programs to help foreign language junior faculty members develop as effective researchers, teachers, and members of a community of scholars, focusing on tenure criteria, collegiality, and congruence. (CB)

Addresses the need of devoting, during the next two years, more time to a special kind of foreign language departmental planning. This planning may determine the strength of foreign language programs at colleges and universities at the turn of the century. (GLR)

Explores recent reports on the state of education and on the language education profession's response to recommendations for improving instruction and suggests that language educators unite to clarify for the profession and for others what is being done in foreign language education. (CB)

Outlines some problems in university foreign language departments that arise from the fact that prestige in foreign language departments results mostly from publishing in the fields of literary criticism and linguistics, which have little to do with language teaching. Anticipates that the current interest in text linguistics and pragmatics will…

Describes the roles and intellectual contributions of foreign language methodologists in order to help other foreign language faculty work with them and understand their primary research interset in developing techniques and approaches that enhance language teaching. (CB)

Advocates the concepts of performance and teamwork among college and university language faculty to develop and maintain pride, recognition, and high professional status in the face of the typical "poor relation" status of the foreign languages and literature field in the university family. (CB)

Describes a university's strategy for screening and hiring talented language faculty, including required qualifications, interviews at professional conventions, candidate ranking, on-campus visits, and existing faculty evaluation of potential faculty. (CB)

Suggests an innovative technique for the graduate curriculum in literature and language that can help new faculty members develop not only culture courses but also competency in interdisciplinary scholarship, discussing course organization, varieties of interdisciplinary study, and the professional development seminar. (20 references) (CB)