Four types of exploratory foreign language programs are described: (1) the language overview course, (2) the trial-study course, (3) the Level I offering, and (4) the course for the non-college bound. It is largely in the middle schools (grades 6-8) and junior high schools (grades 7-9) that exploratory programs are being used. The language overview course is designed to increase or to develop student linguistic awareness through an educational experience in the basic social phenomenon of language. Approaches to language overview courses are the linguistic-centered approach, an approach that samples several language families, and the Esperanto approach. The trial-study language course provides a linguistic and cultural experience that permits the student to sample language study prior to registering for a regular sequence course. The level I middle grade offering is the first phase of second language learning. Two types of foreign language course for the non-college bound student are the conversational, cultural approach that minimizes written and grammar areas and the program for the very low achiever. (SW)