Projects

National K - 12 Foreign Language Survey

Funder: U.S. Department of Education, International Research and Studies Program

September 2006 – August 2009

The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) conducts a national survey of foreign language instruction in elementary and secondary schools every decade to gain greater understanding of current patterns and shifts over time in enrollments, the number of schools offering foreign language classes, the types of foreign language offerings, foreign language curricula and methodologies, teacher qualifications and training, and the effects of NCLB, among other issues. We are currently conducting the third survey to be able to show trends in foreign language education at three points in time (1987, 1997, 2007). Working with Westat, a leader in survey research, CAL aims to provide an updated national and regional portrait of foreign language instruction in public and private elementary and secondary schools.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE SURVEY – FALL 2007 UPDATE

Who is getting surveyed?

A stratified random sample of more than 5,000 public and private elementary and secondary schools across the country will receive the 2007 foreign language questionnaires. The sample consists of schools selected from the U.S. Department of Education’s NCES 2005 Common Core of Data (CCD) Public School Universe File and the Private School Universe Survey (PSS).

School Type	Elementary Schools	Secondary Schools	Total
Public Private	2,225 1,335	775 775	3,000 2,110
Total	3,560	1,550	5,110

What do the surveys look like?

CAL has developed separate questionnaires for elementary and secondary schools to collect information on enrollment, amount of foreign language instruction, type of foreign language offerings, foreign language curricula, teacher qualifications, and reactions to national reform issues.

How will the survey be administered?

Respondents will have the option of completing the survey on a traditional paper and pencil questionnaire or on a Web version that will be accessed through the Internet. Respondents will receive a cover letter with the survey with information (including login ID and password) about the option to complete the Web version. Prior to mailing the survey to the schools, a courtesy information packet consisting of a cover letter and information copy of the questionnaire will be mailed to the superintendent of each district, along with a list of schools in their district that have been selected for participation.

At what stage are we in the survey process?

The mailout of the questionnaires, to be completed by the principal and/or foreign language department chair/foreign language teacher of each sampled school, is scheduled for early October 2007. Those schools not responding by the October 31, 2007, deadline will receive a follow-up mailing in early November 2007. Telephone follow-up to nonrespondents will begin about 3 weeks after the reminder questionnaires are mailed to the schools. Data collection is scheduled to end in February 2008.

What kind of response rate are we expecting?

CAL is aiming for a response rate of 60% or higher, using a variety of data collection techniques, including follow-ups by mail and, when necessary, reminders by e-mail and telephone.

Can schools volunteer to participate in the survey?

The survey is sent to a statistically-valid stratified random sample of public and private schools that is representative of all schools in the nation, so it is not possible to participate unless your school has been selected in the sample. However, non-sampled schools can assist in the survey process by encouraging schools that they know have received the survey to respond in a prompt manner.

When will there be results?

Preliminary results will be posted on CAL’s Web site by September 2008 and final products will be available in spring 2009. Final products will include a comprehensive report, an executive summary, and a brochure with key findings.

More information?

For more details on the survey, please contact Dr. Ingrid Pufahl, Survey Coordinator or Nancy Rhodes, Survey Director.

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