Describes a survey of the heads of doctoral degree-granting foreign language departments to determine whether there was sufficient unanimity among them as to which journals are considered important outlets for major research efforts. Although some journals were mentioned much more frequently than others, no true ranking emerged from the survey.…

Argues that video material for foreign language teaching should be designed to serve as model for immediate language production and not just for listening comprehension and culture. Describes some classroom strategies for use with video instruction. (EKN)

Describes a university course on East German art and politics. Provides a syllabus and list of required tests. (EKN)

The revision of an intermediate-level college French grammar course whose enrollment had been falling steadily is described. The three goals were (1) building on aural-oral competence gained earlier; (2) rigorous and systematic introduction to reading and writing skills; and (3) preservation of enthusiasm built in a newly revamped introductory…

Describes the strategies used by Pacific University (Oregon) to build up enrollments in foreign languages, including restructuring the program for foreign language majors, changing teaching methodology, and emphasizing study abroad. Also discusses active student recruiting. (EKN)

Describes Spanish practicum course at Lewis and Clark College in which students of Spanish act as English tutors for Spanish-speaking individuals on campus and in the community. Students benefit culturally and linguistically and Spanish curriculum is enhanced. (Author/BK)

Describes the intensive French program at Western Maryland College. Concludes that the program has helped to reverse some of the dwindling enrollments in French. (EKN)

Describes the intensive German program at North Texas State University. Shows how the intensive course model may be adapted to tight budgets. (EKN)

Discusses why most colleges have dropped a foreign language requirement and what should be done to reestablish and solidify the place of second language programs in a required curriculum. (EKN)

Reports a survey of postsecondary institutions in the United States. Questionnaires were sent to foreign language departments. A 79 percent response indicated that 60.1 percent of all enrollments were in elementary courses. Information reported concerns languages offered in various types of institutions, institutional factors affecting enrollment,…

Discusses the general education role assigned by many institutions to foreign language departments and the difficulties that these have encountered in adjusting their course offerings and their goals to such role. Expresses the belief that the foreign language classroom is the ideal environment to teach the value of language as a heuristic device.…

Arguments both pro and con about the foreign language (FL) requirement are presented. Negative arguments center on the decreasing value of FL study and the inadequacy of skills developed in a four course sequence. Positive arguments concern immediate benefits to students and the importance of FL study in a liberal arts curriculum. (AMH)

Preliminary findings are reported from a survey conducted to determine the apparent absence of compensation for foreign language department chairs at some institutions. It is noted that, compared to the sciences or humanities, the typical foreign language program has greater and more complex tasks administratively and should, therefore, receive…

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)

Incorporation of women's and feminist issues into foreign language programs has been limited mostly to literature, and not language, courses. Reconsideration of this traditional boundary must seek a greater balance in including women's issues in both foreign language literature and foreign language teaching and examination. (CB)