Here’s what participants and administrators in the

Language Resource Center Program have to say about

their experiences in the program:

“The programs supported by IEPS are critical linchpins to

language education in this country. Funding for

Language Resource Centers (LRC), for example, allows 

collaborative efforts such as the National Capital

Language Resource Center to operate, in which three

institutions pool resources, develop and conduct 

professional development for foreign language teachers,

do research on language testing, and conduct 

extensive outreach. Each LRC also becomes a foundation

on which other activities can be built, thus multiplying

the impact of federal funding. As a result, the IEPS program makes real and important contributions to

expanding language capacity in the United States.“

–Donna Christian, Center for Applied Linguistics 

“Most of the world's languages would not be taught at 

colleges and universities anywhere in the United States

were it not for the programs administered by IEPS.

Because there is little commercial support for the less

commonly taught languages, the nation's capacity for

learning and teaching these languages depends heavily

on the Language Resource Centers program. This 

program provides the support that is crucial for carrying

out research, developing teaching materials, and 

supporting the professional development of teachers of

those languages.“

–Richard Schmidt, Director, National Foreign Language

Resource Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, and

President, American Association for Applied Linguistics

“Your efforts are leading the way to a far better 

understanding of what we need to know as we introduce 

technology into language learning programs at all levels.

The proceedings and resulting dialog from your

“Invitational Symposium on Assessing and Advancing

Technology Options in Language Learning (AATOLL)”

are eagerly awaited as guidance on the directions the 

language training and education community should

take in programming further development.“ 

–Glenn H. Nordin, Interagency Language Roundtable 

U.S.Department of Education

Office of Postsecondary Education

International Education Programs Service

1990 K Street, N.W., 6th Floor

Washington, DC 20006-8521

Tel: 202-502-7700

Fax: 202-502-7860

www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps providing

U.S. Department of Education

International Education Programs Service

Language Resource Centers Program

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The mission of the International Education Programs

Service (IEPS) is to meet the national needs for expertise and

competence in foreign languages and area or international

studies. IEPS administers 14 international education 

programs. These programs are complementary in nature

and designed to benefit a variety of audiences through

training programs, research, start-up or enhancement 

projects, and fellowships.

LANGUAGE RESOURCE CENTERS

This program provides grants to institutions of higher 

education to establish, strengthen, and operate resource 

centers that serve to improve the nation’s capacity to teach

and learn foreign languages.

Eligible Applicants

Institutions of higher education.

Center Activities 

• Conduct and disseminate research on teaching and 

learning methods, including the use of technology.

• Develop and disseminate research-based language 

materials for K-16 that reflect effective teaching strategies.

• Develop skill-level standards for languages.

• Develop, apply, and disseminate performance tests.

• Train teachers in the use of performance tests, effective 

teaching and learning strategies, and technology.

• Focus on the teaching and learning of less commonly 

taught languages.

• Operate intensive summer institutes for foreign 

language learning and provide professional 

development.

About The Language Resource 

Centers Program 

Since 1990, the U.S. Department of Education has provided

Language Resource Center (LRC) grants for the establishment

and operation of centers that serve as resources through teacher

training, research and materials development that improve the

nation's capacity for teaching and learning foreign languages, as

well as dissemination projects.

The LRC program draws on institutional strengths in foreign 

language teaching, applied linguistics, second language 

acquisition and materials development. LRCs undertake projects

that focus primarily on the less commonly taught languages.

However, many LRC projects have implications for the teaching

and learning of all languages, and the overriding goal of all 

projects is to develop prototypes that can be applied broadly as

resources to improve foreign language education nationally.

Duration of the Grant

Four years

For More Information

E-mail questions to ope_iegps@ed.gov or visit the IEPS Web site

at www.ed.gov/programs/iegpslrc for more information,

including: application deadline, application package, technical

assistance and program statute and regulations.

The LRCs maintain a joint Web site at http://nflrc.msu.edu where

you can get more information about individual grantees and

their activities.

Access to the World and Its Languages

educating

creating

Under Title VI of the Higher Education Act, IEPS administers 

10 domestic programs that provide a variety of grants to 

institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, and

individuals for projects in foreign languages, area or 

international studies, and international business.

These include:

• National Resource Centers 

• Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships 

• Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign

Language Program 

• International Research and Studies 

• Business and International Education 

• Centers for International Business Education 

• Language Resource Centers 

• American Overseas Research Centers 

• Institute for International Public Policy 

• Technological Innovation and Cooperation for 

Foreign Information Access 

If you would like more information about the domestic 

international education programs, please visit the IEPS

Web site at www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/iegps.

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