| While I agree with some of the article referenced below, I do not agree with all of it. For example, while I do agree that "… children who learn a language at an early age adapt better than those who study languages after the age of 12," and that "…Spanish has ranked the highest in choice among the foreign languages" being offered in U.S. public schools. However, I believe that making Spanish, or any other single foreign language mandatory would be a great mistake. We live in a much more multi-cultural world than just a Spanish/English one. We need to be diverse in our foreign language studies. Events can suddenly make one or more languages vitally important to U.S. interests. For example, at the moment, we have a great lack of U.S. citizens with linguistic skills in Middle Eastern languages and culture, much to our detriment.
Therefore, I do not agree with the article that the study of Spanish should be made mandatory in our school system, however, I would argue that the study of at least one foreign language should be required from elementary school through high school.. We ignore the study of foreign languages at our own peril.
Hablas Espanol? Why not?
The Kaleidoscope, AL - May 7, 2008
Among the languages offered to students, Spanish has ranked the highest in choice among the foreign languages. This shows that it is not a problem among the …
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Tags: Spanish, Spanish Language, foreign language, foreign languages
Immersion issue isn't fading
Times and Transcript, Canada - Mar 29, 2008
""Research says: if you want your children to be fully bilingual in New Brunswick (and learn other subjects as well) send them to a French-Language Daycare and a French-Language School.
In a subsequent newspaper article, Daniel Bourgeois, Executive Director of the Institute, while pointing to research on when young children best acquire another language was quoted as saying "Neuro-cognitive sciences tell us children will (best) learn the syntax, the grammar (and) the structure (of language) from age one to six. Yet here we are in …
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Tags: French, French language, immersion, French-language, French-language school, New Brunswick
Inside NoVA |
Breaking down language barriers
Inside NoVA, VA - Mar 29, 2008
By Amanda Stewart
Stephanie Williams remembers a time when she was the only Spanish-language interpreter working in the Prince William County courthouse. …
" Courts in Prince William County, and throughout the state, rely on foreign-language interpreters to help them communicate with defendants and witnesses who don't speak English. …
In the county and the state, the greatest demand is for Spanish-language interpreters, although interpreters of other languages, including American Sign Language, are also needed." …
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Tags: Spanish, Spanish language, interpreters
C&G Newspapers |
Foreign languages open up new possibilities for students
C&G Newspapers, MI - Mar 12, 2008
"Foreign language classes at a younger age give students a better chance at learning and retaining the language, educators say. It’s also recommended today’s students learn a second language to prepare for careers in a global economy. The new high school state curriculum mandates that went into effect this year, in which students must have two world language credits, is another reason for promoting foreign languages. …
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![]() Diane Mufson: Americans must speak more than just English
Huntington Herald Dispatch, WV - Mar 14, 2008
"While many recent immigrants speak a foreign language and have various
degrees of facility in English, the great majority of Americans are
monolingual; they communicate only in English." …
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages indicates that about a third of American students in grades 7 to 12 are taking foreign languages, but more than 95 percent study only Spanish, French, German, Italian or Latin." …
"The same article also noted that the Chinese have more than 200 million
students studying English, but fewer than 24,000 Americans are studying
the Chinese language. In everyday terms, this means that millions of
Chinese will understand our conversations but only a tiny fraction of
Americans will comprehend theirs."…
"In the 21st century, teaching foreign languages should be viewed as
just as important as math, computers, science and social studies.
Schools should be offering a variety of foreign languages to all
students from an early age.Our traditional way of teaching foreign languages to mainly
college-bound high school students is ineffective. Developing fluency
or even familiarity within another language also tends to …"
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Tags: ForeignLanguage, Foreign Languages, Chinese, Chinese language, French, Spanish, German, Latin
Students get head start in Spanish language Austin Herald, MN - March 13, 2008
A favorite class for some southgate Elementary first- and second-graders was not even available at this time last year. District integration funding has allowed students in all four elementary schools as well as Woodson Kindergarten the opportunity to learn basic Spanish language skills. … The goal of the [Foreign Language in the Elementary School] FLES program is to expose students to other languages at an earlier age, when they are more receptive to learning a second language. "Studies are showing the earlier you can learn a new language, the better,"… Read the full article, Students get head start in Spanish language
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Tags: Spanishlanguage, FLES, Spanish, learning a second language
Lawmakers want foreign languages
UW Badger Herald, WI - February 1, 2008
Wisconsin legislators introduced legislation Thursday that would create a world language instruction program for the state elementary schools.
With burgeoning globalization, the ability to communicate effectively with people from every corner of the world is no longer a mere convenience but an undeniable necessity, lawmakers said. …
Apart from the economic benefits foreign language instruction creates for the community, Patrick Gasper, communications officer for the Department of Public Instruction, said introducing children to foreign languages at a young age can have a more immediate and personal impact on their cognitive development.
“Younger students are able to learn faster and easier than adults, and students who study languages fare better in other subjects. …
More…Lawmakers want foreign languages
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Tags: language, languages, foreign languages
Starting language early boosts ability to learn
Albany Times Union, NY - Jan 28, 2008
Students in Europe (including Great Britain) usually start foreign languages younger than Americans, and they end up being able to pick up many other languages easily later in life.
The prime age for learning another language is about 7 years old, so we as a nation are doing our future generations a huge disservice by not teaching them foreign languages at a younger age and by encouraging them to take only one foreign language. …
More … Starting language early boosts ability to learn
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Tags: languages, foreign languages, foreign language
Howell parents set up Chinese classes
Lansing State Journal, MI - Jan 28, 2008
Parents of a Howell Public Schools fifth-grader have found a way to continue a Chinese language class that the district's curriculum committee canceled.
The ever-growing awareness of China as a global economic force has other Michigan school districts offering Chinese language and culture classes to their students.
Lansing, Van Buren, Traverse City, Berkley and Lamphere school districts have classrooms where students spend half the day learning in English and the other learning in Mandarin Chinese, officials said. …
More… Howell parents set up Chinese classes
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Tags: language, languages, foreign languages, Chinese, Chinese Language, Mandarin, Mandarin Chinese