| 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
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
![]() 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
The Rosetta Stone Spanish Language Program is offered in two versions, Latin American and Spain. The Latin American version is available in three levels and the Spain version is available in two levels.
Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) Level 1 
With over 3500 real-life images and phrases in 92 lessons, Spanish Level 1, Personal Edition provides up to 250 hours of mastery instruction in Listening Comprehension, Reading, Speaking, and Writing. Systematic structure teaches vocabulary and grammar naturally, without lists and drills. Previews, exercises and tests accompany every lesson with automated tutorials throughout the program. Level 1, Personal Edition provides instruction in such categories as People and Talking; Directions; Food, Eating and Drinking; Family Relationships; Telling Time; Numbers to One Hundred; Clothing and Dress; Vehicles, Furniture and Instruments; Shapes, Colors and Location; And Much More. Spanish Level 1, Personal Edition comes complete with an illustrated User's Guide and a Curriculum Text book.
Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) Level 1
Available as CD-ROM and Online Subscription
Toni Roman's Video Review of Rosetta Stone Spanish 1
Spanish language learning products mentioned in the review of Rosetta Stone Spanish 1
Rosetta Stone Spanish 1
Learn Spanish Like Crazy
Pimsleur Spanish
Rosetta Stone Spanish 1 is complementary with either Learn Spanish Like Crazy or Pimsleur Spanish The Rosetta Stone program is visual while the others are audio. While the two audio programs will get you up and running quickly for spoken Spanish, the Rosetta Stone program will also teach you to read Spanish and has a feature built into the software to allow you to check your pronounciation.
LANGUAGE BARRIER
Centre Daily Times, PA - Jan 26, 2008
Klein demonstrated another stretching position, leading the kids in more foreign languages: French, German, and Japanese. By spring, the students also will learn to count to 10 in Russian, Greek, Mandarin and Hebrew. …
"…Chinese [is the] the second most common foreign language spoken in the nation, according to 2005 U.S. Census Bureau data.
Spanish is the most common. French is third.
About 20 percent of Americans ages 5 and older speak a language other than English.
…
The long-range goal of Young Scholars is to see its graduates proficient in both Spanish and Chinese by the time they reach eighth grade — when students at most other schools are just getting started learning a foreign language.
Read the full article here LANGUAGE BARRIER
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Tags: foreignlanguage, foreign languages, languages, language, Chinese, Chinese language, Spanish, Spanish language, French, French language, Russian, Greek Hebrew, Mandarin, Japanese, German
Spanish skills giving workers an edge
Daytona Beach News-Journal, FL - 17 hours ago
many public and private employers are seeking professionals and other skilled workers who can communicate in English and Spanish.
The need is especially immediate in health care, educational and emergency service areas.
"There's a need for bilingual telecommunicators," Assistant Fire Chief David Faer with the Deltona Fire Department said Friday. "Although you may have someone who can speak English in a regular conversation, under certain circumstances, such as an emergency, they may feel more comfortable speaking in their native language."
Recently, the fire department hired two bilingual dispatchers to help provide Spanish-language assistance around the clock, Faer said. …
Read the full article Spanish skills giving workers an edge
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Tags: foreignlanguages, languages, Spanish, Spanish language, bilingual
Group updating list of people fluent in other languages
Daily Mail - Charleston, WV - Jan 9, 2008
"…When the Woman's Club of South Charleston first set about in 1963 to organize a list of Kanawha Valley residents who not only spoke foreign languages but also were willing to lend help in translating, it found a rich resource….
The Kanawha Valley Language Bank currently contains 300 names and represents 54 different languages…. The list now includes a wide variety of languages from the expected - French, Spanish and Italian - to the perhaps unexpected - Fiji, Rudu, Boyangu and Bengali…
Read more about Group updating list of people fluent in other languages
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Tags: languages, foreign languages, French, French language, Spanish, Spanish language, Italian, Italian language