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On November 22, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages released the following statement:

Recognizing the current contentious climate in the U.S., the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) believes it is uniquely positioned to help bridge the ideological gaps that divide our nation. We stand with our more than 13,000 members in asserting strongly that diversity and intercultural competence are qualities that must be embraced in the U.S. and throughout the world.

On the heels of a hugely successful annual convention that brought together more than 8,500 language educators, students, and representatives from industry and government, we find strength in knowing that our community is energized and ready to lead.

ACTFL is committed to its core mission: providing vision, leadership, and support for quality teaching and learning of languages. Our members, their students, and the language community at-large remain our top priority. We will continue to support educators and ensure that language learners become linguistically and culturally competent to succeed in the global economy and develop the ability to interact respectfully with others both here in the U.S. and around the world.

We remain hopeful for a future where cultural and linguistic diversity is viewed as an invaluable asset that enriches the lives of all.

Access this statement on ACTFL’s website at https://www.actfl.org/news/position-statements/statement-the-role-language-learning-valuing-diversity-and-promoting-unity