Introduction.

This paper is about the interface among theory, practice, pur-

pose, and result during the fifty years of existence of the Foreign Service Institute

(FSI), and the lessons that have been learned from that interface. We will present

our view of what has been learned from FSI’s half century of practical experience

preparing thousands of adult learners to carry out complex, professional tasks in

foreign languages. The core of the paper will be ten pragmatic lessons about adult

language learning and instruction at FSI. Although most of these lessons will be

seen to be congruent with recent thinking in the field of Second Language Acqui-

sition, some of them present a different perspective…

——-

Lesson 1. Mature adults can learn a foreign language well enough
through intensive language study to do things in the language (almost) as
well as native speakers.

Lesson 2. “Language-learning aptitude” varies among individuals and
affects their classroom learning success (but at least some aspects of aptitude
can be learned).

Lesson 3. There is no “one right way” to teach (or learn) languages, nor
is there a single “right” syllabus.

Lesson 4. Time on task and the intensity of the learning experience ap-
pear crucial.

Lesson 5. Learners’ existing knowledge about language affects their learning.

Lesson 6. A learner’s prior experience with learning (languages or other
skills) also affects classroom learning.

Lesson 7. The importance of “automaticity” in building learner skill and confidence in speaking and reading a language is more important than has
been recognized by the SLA field over the last two decades.

Lesson 8. Learners may not learn a linguistic form until they are
“ready,” but FSI’s experience indicates that teachers and a well designed
course can help learners become ready earlier.

Lesson 9. A supportive, collaborative, responsive learning environment,
with a rich variety of authentic and teacher-made resources, is very impor-
tant in fostering effective learning

Lesson 10. Conversation, which on the surface appears to be one of the
most basic forms of communication, is actually one of the hardest to master.