I love this comment from Greg. It has a very in-your-face quality to it:
In the USA most people have taken 2-4 years of a language in their lifetime, yet they show little proficiency and interest in other languages.
Unfortunately, with the exception of teachers on this blog and those that actively go to conferences like Edcamp, IFLT, NTPRS, I just encounter a lot of teachers who don’t really care. The admin at schools usually doesn’t know SLA, so teachers just keep with the textbook, the kids who “can’t hack it” drop out, the rich kids make it to AP level, those same AP kids are never fluent in the language and life goes on.
Some teachers try to change the system from within; others speak out against the system. What we all agree on is something is very wrong. The challenge is staying positive when you realize that it’s the system that’s messed up.
Our own classrooms are the only thing we can really change. That’s where the change happens.