French for Specific Purposes: The Hawaiian Experience

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Curriculum development in foreign languages for specific purposes in Hawaii, as on the mainland, encounters various difficulties: programmatic priorities, enrollment quotas, administrative requirements and a negative or indifferent public perception. In spite of these obstacles, however, a Buiness French course was initiated at the University of Hawaii a few years ago. Its success, coupled with recognition by state officials and academic administrators, brought about the initiation of similar courses in other languages and the development of French for Travel Industry Management majors. The Hawaiian experience in this area of language education points to the necessity of reevaluating existing curricula, introducing innovative offerings, and instituting frameworks for collaboration between administrators, language departments, and professional schools. It also indicates the need for exploring other areas of application which might broaden the students' competitiveness and employment opportunities not only at the local level, but also in the national and international markets.