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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2020
In 1946, modern foreign language instruction in the College of Arts and Sciences, Cornell University, underwent a drastic reorganization. The former departments of German and Romance Languages became departments of German and Romance Literatures; all language teaching as such (together with the teaching of philology and linguistics) was placed in the hands of a new Division of Modern Languages. The new program was quite frankly experimental: it was to be an attempt to adapt to the college situation the wartime experiences in teaching foreign languages to members of the armed forces. A grant to cover initial expenses was generously made by the Rockefeller Foundation. Within five years a faculty committee was to evaluate the new program and to recommend its continuation, revision, or abolishment.
This is the first in a series of articles written at the invitation of the Editor of PMLA in connection with the Association's new, three-year study of the role of foreign languages and literatures in American life. In presenting these articles for the information of members and of other readers of PMLA, the Editor does not necessarily endorse the views expressed therein. The series begins with the Cornell Language Program because, in the Editor's opinion, too many persons in the profession, having “heard things”—some mistaken, some misleadingly incomplete—about this particularly conspicuous and provocative experiment, have therefore expressed hostility or concern on the basis of insufficient information. Here is Cornell's own account of the Program, in the words of the currently acting director (Professor J Milton Cowan being in Arabia for the academic year 1952-53).—Ed.