THE EMPIRICAL-EVIDENCE OF FOREIGN-LANGUAGE STUDY

This article examines national transcript samples that were set up at different times with different samples and different rules. College tr anscript samples covering the period 1972-86 show a flat participation rate in foreign language study but increases occurred among business majors and at nonselective institutions. Trends across five high schoo l transcript samples (from 1969 to 1990), on the other hand, leave too much to speculation. Data from the 1991 National Household Education Survey are used to conclude that foreign language study in adulthood i s largely a matter of personal interest, not economic interest, and th at participation rates are very low. Data from the National Longitudin al Study of the High School Class of 1972 allow us to examine the long -term relationships between foreign language study and adult life. Fin dings indicate that those who studied foreign language in college were more likely to be working in human service occupations at age 32 or 3 3 than those who studied no foreign language and that, in terms of ear nings and unemployment, the benefits of foreign language study are neg ligible.