The study examines the current problems with which the nation’s second foreign languages(SFL) education today faces and suggests the recommendations for SFL policy. Assumíng that SFL is at risk, the study warns that SFL policy has failed to recognize the importance of SFL and so gives less attention to factors that are required for improving the quality of SFL. The maín reasons for the crisís of SFL, the study says. seem to be the lack of giving efforts to improvement for SFL and the policy. makers' failure to provide the SFL improvement plans (e.g., focusing on expanding the aspect of quantity with respect to the SFL without considering that of quality or making the SFL electives for the ColIege Scholastic Ability Test). Based on the problems identified in the study. a couple of recommendations are suggested as follow. The SFL shou1d be offered as common courses for a11 and thus high schoo1 graduates take SFL subjects as the compu[sory in the College Scholastic Ability Tests. Teaching methods and materials for the SFL should be improved and developed. Particularly for the effective SFL, it should be free from the textbooks only classroom teaching-learning situation and lots of up-to-date curricular materials and laboratory apparatus should be developed .

When the importance of various cu1tures is emphasized more and more, 1earning various languages can a1so keep off the cultural standardization. But today the second foreign 1anguage education is facíng a serious crisis. The balance of foreign 1anguage learners is not proper. The environment for learning the second foreign languages is getting worse. In the seventh curricu1um the credit hour will be reduced. Moreover, students staπ to 1eam the second foreign language only when they are in the e1eventh grade. Many German- or French teachers have to change their own subjects into another subject. The quality of education wiU go down. Changes should be taken place gradually in order t。 prevent side effects.

The education of ]apanese in Korea will be heavily influenced by the recent cultural exchanges between Korea and ]apan and the introduction of new educational systems. Therefore, it is imperative that we be prepared to adjust ourselves to the changing international environment. To study the language of a country is to understand her culture or to acquire the means to understand it. ] apan has made steady efforts to expand the education of ] apanese in other countries as a way of helping foreigners better understand ]apan and the ]apanese. There have been civilian programs for that particular objective as well as. the Government-directed projects such as financial supports for a large number of foreign students. Paying attention to the ]apanese efforts, it is time for us to reexamine our educational system of ] apanese. We should not forget the past history in relation with ]apan. But we should not ignore the present reality, either. We are witnessing the ever-increasing inflow of ]apanese culture in Korea. We need to realize that an objective and precise understanding of ]apan and the ]apanese culture is needed for the best interest of our countηT. That is the reason why 1 argue for a search for a new method of ]apanese education.