This study discusses agency in language policy and planning (LPP) development from the perspective of Brazilian national language policies reflected in the local LPP programme/initiative of a public university in the Southeast region of the country. With that goal, national and local (institutional) documents are analysed and contrasted with the…

For many years English learners (ELs) have lagged behind native speakers of English in the academic community. In an era of accountability, the pressure to achieve and maintain Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status is increasing the burden of success on ELs, especially when trying to learn a second language. The population of English learners is…

The National Resource Centers Program provides grants to institutions of higher education to establish, strengthen, and operate comprehensive and undergraduate centers that are national resources for: (1) Teaching modern foreign languages, especially the less and least commonly taught languages; (2) Disciplinary instruction to provide a thorough…

A number of reports in the US have highlighted the country's need for improved second language skills for both national security and economic competitiveness. The Language Flagship program, launched in 2002, aims to raise expectations regarding language proficiency levels at the post-secondary level and to address structural gaps in the curricula…

Five and a half years after the 2001 terrorist attacks, colleges are still struggling to respond to demands from the government, businesses, and students for more teaching of the languages believed to be critical to America's security and economic future. Arabic is considered essential for representing America's interests in the Middle East, but…

This report is a summary of the Foreign Language Assistance Act. The Act, enacted as part of the Augustus Hawkins-Robert Stafford Elementary and Secondary Education Improvement Act of 1988 (PL100-297), provides formula grants to state education agencies for the creation of model elementary and secondary foreign language education programs in local…

This is a research brief of a longer report, also published as "Bilingual Education and English as a Second Language Summary Report, 2009-2010". Twenty-nine percent of students enrolled in Austin Independent School District were English language learners in 2009-2010. The majority of them (62%) continued to make progress in English…

This paper provides an overview of U.S. Department of Education programs authorized and funded under federal law. It includes information as well on the laboratories, centers, and other facilities funded by the Department that provide important resources for education. Each entry, which gives a brief overview of a program or resource, is listed…

Twenty-nine percent of students enrolled in Austin Independent School District were English language learners in 2009-2010. The majority of them (62%) continued to make progress in English proficiency, and their state academic test (TAKS) performance continued to improve over the years.

A restructured core curriculum at Saint Anselm College includes an interdisciplinary humanities program incorporating a required foreign language sequence. Introductory courses use native speakers in weekly informal conversation sessions to prepare students for a later required culture and civilization course taught in the foreign language. (MSE)

This report analyzes and summarizes the National Security Education Act of 1991 (NSEA) which authorizes a new program of aid for foreign language and area studies. The report discusses the legislation's aim to increase future national security through enhanced foreign language abilities and knowledge of other countries, the NSEA's authorized…

A study of the State Legalization Impact Assistance Grant (SLIAG) program in Illinois, federally funded under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, is presented. The program assists the state in providing English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) and civics instruction to help undocumented immigrants meet legal residency requirements. Data were…

La Salle College's three-track Bilingual/Bicultural Master of Arts Program is described and its first operational year (September 1982 - August 1983) is evaluated. Track I served teachers of English as a second language, Spanish as a first language, and other classes within bilingual education programs. Track II served students from other fields…

Oklahoma State University applied for and received federal funding to offer instruction in Spanish and French to university faculty, staff, and spouses. Students participate in two types of classes: (1) informal instruction using a cognitive, proficiency-based approach with informal evaluation and little or no homework, and (2) intensive…

A national survey of state foreign language supervisors gathered information on any significant change in second language instruction in their states. Surveys from 30 states were returned. Topic areas included: (1) the impact of systemic reform during 1995; (2) federal funding for standards and reform, and whether or not second language programs…