I have no apologies to make for choosing this theme for the address this evening. The place and importance which modern language study has assumed in our modern educational systems, both collegiate and secondary, fully justify this choice. We do well to consider from time to time the vital problems connected with our work, with modern language teaching, be those languages English, French, German, or any other form of living speech. We need to examine at close range, in clear and definite terms, the aims and purpose of our efforts, the means and instrumentalities through which these are sought to be reached, the causes of our successes and our failures, and the nature and character of practicable measures for betterment and improvement.