The presentations on this panel cover a broad range of concerns in current language policy and practice striving to further the internationalization of Americans and American institutions including education, business and government. The experience of forging cooperation between language and non-language faculty in the development of curriculum and an overseas study program is examined in one paper with various innovative strategies offered to assure that cooperation (Goucher College). Another panelist demonstrates how limited though increasing demand for LCTLs has led to substantial consortium activity in summer language programs in the U.S. and academic programs abroad. These programs face issues of high enrollments in a very few languages and virtually no interest in many languages critical to the United States with few students ever achieving superior level proficiency in any of the languages of the region (South Asia). A third presentation demonstrates how integration of language learning with an institutional strategic plan at Georgia Tech has altered the landscape in numerous areas both in language curriculum and in non-language courses, corporate and organizational collaborations and study abroad. Finally two speakers consider language policy and practice at the national level. Policies, strategies and priorities to enlarge the pool of speakers and of highly proficient speakers are explored in one presentation. This paper written by a second language acquisition specialist and center director also looks at research and funding issues as essential to success in achieving U.S. goals. In the second a former FSI training specialist and ILR Coordinator considers changes in attitude and policy within government toward language proficiency levels pre and post 9/11. This panelist argues that the demand for advanced level language training is one that is now
shared by business and that educational institutions including K-12 school systems, colleges and universities and government language training institutions are altering their language programs accordingly.
Presentation Listing:
Cooperative Academic Year and Summer Language Programs
International Education Programs Service
U.S. Department of Education
Office of Postsecondary Education
1990 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20006-8521
Phone: (202) 502-7700
