Strengthening the Language Requirement at the University of Minnesota: An Initial Report

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Early in 1983, the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota embarked on an investigation of its foreign language requirement for the BA degree. After nearly a year of public hearings and deliberations, the Task Force appointed by the dean determined the then current language requirement to be inadequate and recommended the establishment of an entrance standard as well as the strengthening of the graduation requirement. In March 1984, the College of Liberal Arts Faculty Assembly approved the Task Force recommendations with only a few minor revisions. The key concept in both the entrance standard and the graduation requirement is proficiency, using the ACTFL Provisional Proficiency Guidelines. Since the publication of the Guidelines is relatively recent and since there were only a few certified testers for the ACTFL system, it was first necessary to hold a workshop to train Minnesota secondary and collegiate teachers. The first workshop was held in June 1984. Thirty teachers were trained, ten each for French, German, and Spanish. Shorter workshops were held during the 1984–85 academic year to plan the implementation of proficiency testing for speaking, reading, listening, and writing in French, German, and Spanish. The testing instruments for listening, reading, and writing were drafted in June 1985 and will be used for pilot‐testing during Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters in 1985–86. In Spring 1986, all secondary school seniors planning to enter the College of Liberal Arts in Fall 1986 will be tested for proficiency according to the ACTFL Guidelines.