Language teaching versus language learning systems

Abstract

In spite of the tremendous record of failure of the present system of institutional foreign language programs, in 1980 the U.S. President's Commission on Foreign Languages and International Studies recommended that millions of dollars be poured into this system. This article attempts to suggest answers to the questions: Why is it being proposed that so much money be poured into a system of failure? Why has this system developed? Why should it be changed? And, how could it be changed? It is suggested that while there are now many foreign language programs all over the world, they are, almost without exception, language teaching rather than language learning programs. That is, they have been organized by, and ultimately for, language teachers, rather than language learners. Finally, it is suggested that what is needed is for language learning systems to be set up with language learners, rather than language teachers, at the center of the language education process.