Policy Issues in Foreign Language and Study Abroad

Abstract

As exchange and study abroad programs proliferate and the range of countries and languages involved broadens, the role of language competence in such programs is in vital need of examination. Long-neglected policy issues, like standards and assessment as well as program design and management, must be addressed. Programs relying on or developing language competence are in need of a new national architecture, which brings to bear expertise from the field of second language acquisition, target languages and cultures, and exchange and study management.