Responding to a need expressed by a number of active foreign language teaching professionals, the Modern Language Association of America (MLA) began in 1972 to explore the possibility of a new national foreign language program. A steering committee was appointed by the MLA Executive Council to draft an outline of such a program. The present work is the final report of that committee. The report begins with a description of the steering committee and its goals and a brief history of foreign language teaching in America. The necessity of viewing language study as a humanistic endeavor with a vital humanizing power is discussed in Section 3. In Section 4, called "An Outline for Action," specific suggestions are made concerning: (1) public awarness of the importance of language study, (2) professional awareness and coordination, (3) classroom organization and techniques, (4) extracurricular programs, (5) bilingual education, (6) the uncommonly taught languages, and (7) quality control and national standards for language teaching and teacher training. (Author/PMP)