A "COURSE DROPOUT" IS A STUDENT WHO DROPS HIS STUDY OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE AFTER 2 YEARS IN HIGH SCHOOL. HE FULFILLS HIS MINIMUM FOREIGN LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT FOR COLLEGE ENTRANCE, BUT DOES NOT HAVE A SUFFICIENT MASTERY TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE LANGUAGE ARTS. THE TREMENDOUS ATTRITION RATE AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS HAS MANY CAUSES--INCONSISTENT TEACHING METHODS, POORLY TRAINED OR UNENTHUSIASTIC TEACHERS WHO DO NOT ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO ENROLL IN ELECTIVE ADVANCED CLASSES, BAD CLASS PROGRAMING, AND UNWISE COUNSELING ARE ONLY A FEW. PERHAPS THE CHIEF CAUSE IS THE FALSE ASSUMPTION THAT PROFICIENCY CAN BE ACHIEVED IN 2 YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL, ALTHOUGH IT IS KNOWN THAT FLUENCY INCREASES ONLY WITH CONTINUED LANGUAGE STUDY AND PRACTICE. CERTAIN MEASURES ARE NEEDED TO CURTAIL THE ATTRITION RATE AND TO ENCOURAGE COURSES OF LANGUAGE STUDY THAT BEGIN IN THE SIXTH GRADE AND CONTINUE THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL. THIS ARTICLE IS PUBLISHED IN "FOREIGN LANGUAGE NEWSLETTER," VOLUME 14, NUMBER 57, MAY 1966. (AS)