In June of last year, the U.S. Department of Defense hosted "The National Language Conference: A Call to Action" during which it was stated that our nation is at a "Sputnik moment" in languages, with action needed akin to the U.S. response to Sputnik if we are to address our many language needs. Given the fact that the U.S. suffers from severe monolingualism, it may be necessary to discuss our language needs in terms of crisis. What is clear to me is that we face an historic opportunity to advance language learning and education in this nation.

The question then is how do we take advantage of this opportunity? If we are to change the way policy makers and the public view language education, we need to get our message in front of the public and keep it there. This is why the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) has developed a series of Public Service Announcements for television, radio, and print media. If we want policy makers to enact legislation that supports language education, we must get voters to demand such support from their elected officials. In order to motivate voters to speak up and demand that support, the profession must deliver the message that language education is a necessity for every student's academic development, their future work, and success in life.

Now that ACTFL has a wonderful Public Service Announcement, we need your help. In order for us to capture the momentum that is being created by the demand for people skilled in languages, every language educator (from the classroom teacher to college administrator and state and district language coordinator) must take part in activities to advocate for language education.

While ACTFL is pursuing national media exposure with good success to date, each of you can help by becoming a local "Language Ambassador," asking that the PSA be shown on local television and radio stations, and the print version be published in your local newspapers and magazines. You can find out how to become a language ambassador by going to the ACTFL web site at , or the Year of Languages web site.

The Year of Languages will be a success if individual language professionals get involved and speak up for language learning in the United States. Come join ACTFL and be a part of this historic moment when we will close the language gap and place language learning at the forefront of education in the United States.