The Federal Government needs people who can actually communicate in a foreign language, and our academic language programs are not producing such people. To solve this problem, there has to be a change in our basic attitudes and philosophies about language teaching and learning. Language courses must be transformed from passive exercises into active experiences. Bold new approaches must be considered, such as applied group dynamics, incentive grades based on effectiveness of personal approach, and close coordination with English departments and other branches of the humanities. The Government employs teams of native speakers and linguistics to teach foreign languages to Federal employees; native English speakers with foreign language majors do not meet the requirements for teaching at the Foreign Service Institute. The number of other available government jobs where language ability is primary is relatively small. The Federal Government can, under existing circumstances, do little to expand the job market for foreign language majors, but foreign language competence can be helpful to a job applicant for many kinds of positions. An aggressive attempt must be made to strengthen the position of foreign language study as communication within the framework of the liberal arts curriculum. (Author/PP)