History of Foreign Language Studies in America

With the state America is in right now, there is an ever increasing need to focus of foreign language studies in this country. Government officials, business leaders, and educators have expressed concerns about the lack of education among the American people in this area of study. The United States is the only country where you can complete secondary or higher education with no foreign language study. The act of offering, or sometimes requiring, a year or two of foreign language study isn't nearly enough to prepare our children for the world we live in. As the world becomes smaller, due largely to the advent of new communications technology, we have to focus more attention towards making sure that our children are prepared for the future; which is going to include even more emphasis on the necessity of foreign language skills. Before we can move forward and focus on these studies, though, we should know a little about the history of the attempts that have come before.

In 1979, the President's Commission on Foreign Language and International Studies devoted a year to an intensive evaluation of the state of foreign language education and international studies. The Commission confirmed persistent problems in foreign language instruction, from inadequate training of teachers to insufficient administrative support. The problem was found to extend through all levels of education. According to Leon Panetta, a former White House Chief of Staff under President Clinton, there were sixty-five recommendations from the Commission, most of which have not been implemented.

Depending on political and social climates, the emphasis on foreign language education and international studies has risen and fallen. During the 1960's and early 1970's, elementary and secondary schools were frequently forced to re-evaluate their curriculum due to budget cuts. With the effect of foreign language studies largely difficult to assess, parents and educators determined that students gained nothing from the learning experience. It didn't take long for foreign language instruction in schools to decline.

During the late 1970's and early 1980's, there was a resurgence of interest in foreign language education programs, partially due to the concern of coping with the various immigrant groups now in the country. Parents and educators also found new information on the effects of foreign language studies. The Educational Testing Service and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages developed Proficiency Guidelines. This period also brought an interest in coping with the language needs of minorities in the Untied States, which is not unlike the air of the country today.