Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
The purpose of this study was to investigate trends in foreign
language programs in commmity/junior colleges in Florida. Most of the
data were obtained by sending questionnaires to each of the twenty-eight
commnunity/junior colleges in Florida. One questionnaire was sent to each
academic dean and one to the chairperson of each department of foreign
languages. Complete data were obtained from sixteen cnmmnunity colleges.
The findings were the following: foreign language enrollment as
percentage of the total enrollment was decreasing in fourteen out of the
sixteen participating colleges. Spanish was the dominant language with
56 percent of the total foreign language enrollment; French was second,
German third, Italian fourth, and Russian fifth. French and German enrollments were declining, Spanish, Russian, and Italian enrollments were increasing.
A study of course offerings showed that transfer needs of students
seemed to be met but that only fifty percent of the sixteen colleges
offered vocational courses, courses in continuing education, and community education in foreign languages. The study included a survey of the qualifications
and teaching load of foreign language instructors. These
instructors seemed to be academically well-qualified and experienced.
The recommendations were the following: foreign language departments
in each commnunity college should assess the foreign language related
needs of the student population as well as those of the surrounding
community. Since transfer needs seemed to be already met, more vocational
courses and courses in commnunity education and continuing education should
be developed. These programs would have to be "sold" and not merely
offered to students and members of the community. A promising development
was the growing involvement in international education of community
colleges in Florida as well as in the rest of the United States.
language programs in commmity/junior colleges in Florida. Most of the
data were obtained by sending questionnaires to each of the twenty-eight
commnunity/junior colleges in Florida. One questionnaire was sent to each
academic dean and one to the chairperson of each department of foreign
languages. Complete data were obtained from sixteen cnmmnunity colleges.
The findings were the following: foreign language enrollment as
percentage of the total enrollment was decreasing in fourteen out of the
sixteen participating colleges. Spanish was the dominant language with
56 percent of the total foreign language enrollment; French was second,
German third, Italian fourth, and Russian fifth. French and German enrollments were declining, Spanish, Russian, and Italian enrollments were increasing.
A study of course offerings showed that transfer needs of students
seemed to be met but that only fifty percent of the sixteen colleges
offered vocational courses, courses in continuing education, and community education in foreign languages. The study included a survey of the qualifications
and teaching load of foreign language instructors. These
instructors seemed to be academically well-qualified and experienced.
The recommendations were the following: foreign language departments
in each commnunity college should assess the foreign language related
needs of the student population as well as those of the surrounding
community. Since transfer needs seemed to be already met, more vocational
courses and courses in commnunity education and continuing education should
be developed. These programs would have to be "sold" and not merely
offered to students and members of the community. A promising development
was the growing involvement in international education of community
colleges in Florida as well as in the rest of the United States.
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