ALEXANDRIA —The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) has chosen the winners of its professional awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to the field of language education.

Global Engagement Initiative Recognition Awards:

We are both saddened and outraged by recent events in Charlottesville, Virginia. Racism, bigotry, and white supremacy, and the groups and individuals who promote these hateful ideologies, have no place in American society. The Board of Directors of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) shares your grief for those affected by the events in Virginia and reaffirms its commitment to linguistic, cultural, religious, gender, and ethnic diversity as a bedrock of strength and unity in the panoply of American life.

ALEXANDRIA, VA—In a world where U.S. companies contend in a hypercompetitive global marketplace, where our nation is diplomatically and militarily engaged across the globe, and where tackling complex global challenges requires a greater level of international understanding and cooperation, the ability to communicate in different languages and understand other cultures has never been more vital. Yet, fewer than 10 percent of Americans speak a second language, while barely one-fifth of K-12 students and a mere 8 percent of college students study a second language.

ALEXANDRIA, VA —The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) has released two position statements to express its stance on computer coding and foreign languages.