Unexpected Enrollment Increase Shows Importance of Languages

An unexpected increase in enrollment has occurred in the Romance, Slavic, and Germanic language departments this year, Harry T. Levin '33, Director of the Modern Language Center, reported yesterday. "The increase is part of a national trend," and provides evidence of a "general educational self-searching," he said.

Figures reveal not only that enrollment in Slavic courses jumped from 51 last year to 197, but that Romance languages increased from 1375 to 1477, and Germanic course enrollments rose from 478 to 561.

Professor Levin attributes the increase partially to the fact that Harvard's "language departments have been greatly strengthened of late."

New professors and courses have been added to revitalize the departments and Harvard has recognized that language teaching is important "not as a chore, but as an important task," Levin added.

Edward J. Geary, assistant professor of Romance Languages, attributed the new emphasis to "an increased interest in international affairs," and contact with other cultures with which Americans cannot communicate adequately. He added that interest has grown within the profession, beginning during World War II when new methods were devised to teach languages to service personnel.

Such technical developments in language instruction will be spurred when Boylston Hall is renovated for use of the language departments.

The success of Russian education in technical fields has caused scientists and government officials to advise the study of Russian, Horace G. Lunt '41, associate professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, suggested.

Stuart P. Atkins, professor of German, said that there is a "general change in the pattern of secondary school and college education," under which "languages have suddenly acquired an independent character." He added that the change in English Department policy permitted Honors students to take an advanced modern language course.