At a time when language programs around the United States are in crisis--the University of Rhode Island's Department of Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures is realigning its curriculum to emphasize proficiency and intercultural competence within a strong liberal arts context. The result of the department's recent initiatives? More than…

Despite research showing the broad impact that the study of foreign languages has on the cognitive development of young people, and despite the importance of language expertise for America's economic and geopolitical interests in the twenty-first century, the teaching of world languages has been marginalized within the American educational system…

Describes the structure and major accomplishments of the Language Mission Project, a cooperative initiative of the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the National Foreign Language Center at Johns Hopkins University (Maryland) to help 14 selected colleges and universities rethink and develop their foreign language programs.…

Lack of support for language and literature study in higher education reflects the larger attitudes of American culture: that learning for its own sake has little value. This provincialism is outmoded, dangerous, and intellectually indefensible, and must be eliminated in order to redefine language and literature studies. (MSE)

Increased coordination between foreign language study and international studies programs on college campuses is urged. Recommendations include integration of student language development into courses outside the language department; a revamping of language department curricula; and addressing diversities between developed and developing cultures…