Changing perspectives in foreign language education: Where do we come from? Where are we going?

New beginnings, such as the start of a new century - not to mention a new millenium - lead to flection on our professional past and possible future. This article reminisces about the "good old days" in foreign language education and assesses changes that have taken place in language teaching since the 1960s. Using questions posed originally by Brecht (2001) regarding the future of foreign language education in the United States, the author offers her own perspectives and adds additional questions and issues the profession will have to deal with successfully to guarantee a valued place for foreign languages in our schools and postsecondary institutions.