This title was developed and used first with beginning language students at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in 2015. One of the biggest challenges in language education is how to implement curricular design that enhances learning efficiency at all levels of language instruction. Open Architecture Curricular Design (OACD) is a groundbreaking textbook-free design framework that integrates the best practices in world language education.

"Part 1" and "Chapter 1" are authored by the three editors of the volume and introduce the OACD framework's origins and applicable range. Open architecture is a term borrowed from information technology (IT) and is a learner-centered model that is more responsive to students' individual and variable needs. Instead of using a textbook, language instruction courses are organized around a theme-based syllabus with ongoing adjustment for student needs. This changes the role of the teacher from "facilitator of learning toward that of mentor, coach, advisor, who provides resources and informed guidance to individuals and groups of learners in support of their short- and long-term activities and projects." The history of language learning and the shift from "one-size fits all" teaching to the recognition of learning styles and learner variation is thoroughly explored in this introduction.

This work features a thoughtful examination of topics such as preparing students for OACD learning, as well as chapters exploring transformative learning in Korean and other less commonly taught languages. These chapters are authored by individual contributors, whose credentials and specialties are listed in the back matter, along with the robust index. Each chapter includes useful study notes, endnotes, and references. The subject matter and organization of the book have been clearly well-thought-out by the editors. Academic reviewers and critics extol the publication as being "extremely helpful," "effective," and "an extraordinary introduction to OACD." Such accolades are well deserved.

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