Today, participation in world language studies in Connecticut schools is on the rise - at the same time that it's increasingly difficult to find qualified language teachers. There's a push toward offering instruction at earlier grades and a growing emphasis on responding to the Bush administration's National Security Language Initiative, which promotes spreading the study of languages like Chinese and Arabic….

… teachers is mirrored throughout the nation, said Marty Abbott, director of education for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. …

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Two years of high school Spanish class might teach your teenager how to engage in light conversation or even how to conjugate a reflexive verb. But it won't allow him to share complex thoughts, fully enjoy artistic experiences or, one day, conduct business in Spanish.

For that, students need to begin language study much earlier, continue it much longer and approach it in a sequential manner, according to recent reports….

… Security Language Initiative, which has spent $80 million to increase the teaching of Chinese, Arabic, Farsi and other critical foreign languages. …

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