World of World Languages

World of World Languages

Why do we need to embrace it?

Value of a second language

Second language learners’ exposure to new cultures & new horizons helps them understand English better.

Value of a second language or third

Foreign language learners place higher on both the ACT and the SAT verbal sections.

Value of a third language or a fourth

Foreign language learners show greater cognitive development, creativity, & divergent thinking than monolingual students.

Value of multilingualism

Multilingual students outscore monolingual students on tests of verbal & nonverbal intelligence.

Value of Multilingualism

Students exposed to more than one language at an early age are more flexible & creative, & have better memory & listening skills.

Value of Multilingualism

Students exposed to more than one language at an early age reach higher cognitive development levels sooner than monolingual students.

Academic Benefits

Learning additional languages enhances students academic skills in other subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics.

Academic Benefits

Reading skills are transferable from one language to another.

Academic Benefits

World language/foreign language students significantly outperform their monolingual peers on tests.

Academic Benefits

Functional plasticity of the brain is driven by language & knowing additional languages can add to the brain’s gray matter.

Who is a “good candidate”?

Millions of people with a variety of intelligence levels as well as diverse upbringings become bilingual or multilingual.

Who’s a good candidate?

Common concerns question the peak age to begin world language study.


Studies show that young children may absorb a language through large amounts of input and exposure.

Adolescents & adults appreciate explicit learning, rules, and systematic practice.


Young learners may be more likely to speak a new language like a native, but adolescents and adults may actually learn a world language faster.


Students’ individual differences impact the ease of learning a world language. A student’s aptitude & motivation can be key factors.

What’s the Catch?

Americans are historically unresponsive to the learning of world languages which is a threat to their own security; physically, ideologically, and economically.

What’s the Catch?

The nation’s requirements for language proficiency involve; National Security, Economic Competitiveness, & Social Well Being.

What’s the Catch?

Many studies, hearings, & reports have pointed out our nation’s serious language shortages, & called upon the federal government to increase & improve the United States’ language capabilities.

What’s the Catch?

“Ensuring U.S. security, foreign policy leadership, economic competitiveness, an[d] our ability to solve global problems that affect the nation’s well being depend on Americans who have an understanding of and ability to function effectively in other cultural, business, and value systems, as well as foreign language proficiency.”

--Committee on Appropriations, H.Rpt. 107229 (2001), p.126

What’s the Catch?

American national interests require that the current American leaders think more about international affairs than ever before.

Economic Advantages

“All business is global, yet all markets are local. This globalized multicultural world needs leaders with a keen understanding of national cultures. By learning from other countries, these leaders develop the best thinking and best practices from around the world enabling them to leverage culture as a tool for competitive advantage.”

--R. Rosen, Global Literacies (200), p.171

Economic Advantages

Foreign language proficiency is an enormous advantage in the business world.

Economic Advantages

It would benefit businesses to hire those who can communicate in foreign markets.

Economic Advantages

Someone will have to oversee the local national managers as businesses expand overseas.

Economic Advantages

In a survey of leading European executives only 31% use English for business purposes: English alone cannot be used to access the non-English speaking markets.

Economic Advantages

About 45% of Europeans are fluent enough to hold a conversation in a second language.

About 80% of residents in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden are fluent in a second language & nearly everyone in Luxembourg speaks a second language.

Economic Advantages

“You can buy in any language, but if you want to sell you better speak the language of your customer.”

Unknown

Jobs Jobs Jobs Jobs Jobs Jobs

Business, Industry, & CommerceBanking & Financial PositionsTechnical & Engineering PositionsSecretarial & Clerical PositionsGovernment & InternationalLocal GovernmentInternational – United NationsTeachingTranslators & InterpretersMediaTravel & TourismServices (Health, Social Work, Law & Law Enforcement, Service Organizations)

Why French?

Why French?Why French?Why French?Why French?Why French?Why French?Why French?Why French?

Advantages to French

The Organization of Francophonie has 51 member states & governments. 28 of these members have French as an official language.

Advantages to French?

There are at least 16 nations in Africa where French is the national language. Africa is the one largely undeveloped continent remaining.

French-speaking Africa encompasses an area greater than the USA.


French is the official working language of: the United Nations, UNESCO, NATO, Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development, International Labor Bureau, International Olympic Committee, 31-member Council of Europe, European Community, Universal Postal Union, International Red Cross, & the Union of International Associations.


French is spoken by our largest trading partner: Canada. Quebec Province is the US’ 5th largest trading partner.


France & the US are the top 2 exporters in 3 sectors: defense products, agricultural goods, & services.


French companies employ about 500,000 Americans.

US companies in France employ about 600,000 people.


France is a major world research center in areas related to physics, AIDS research, & medical genetics.

France is a technological leader in aerospace, rockets, telecommunications & transportation (such as the TGV & the Queen Mary II).


Many important writings have come from France some of which are never translated.French is the most widely spoken foreign language in the world after English.Through French study, students become familiar with a culture that significantly influences our own.

Why German?

Why German?Why German?Why German?Why German?Why German?Why German?Why German?Why German?Why German?

Advantages to German?

English is a Germanic language: BETT/bed, GLAS/glass, SCHUH/shoe, LICHT/light, SONNE/sun, & MILCH/milk.

Advantages to German in Michigan?

German companies contribute approximately $31 billion to Michigan’s economy annually.


Michigan has more people employed by German-owned companies than any other state.


Around 610 Michigan companies are German-owned or have at least 50% German ownership.


More than 75 Michigan-based companies have operations in Germany.


Major German companies in the U.S. include: Siemens, ThyssenKrupp, TMobile, Bayer, Adidas, Audi, Braun, Deutsche Bank.


Major U.S. companies in Germany include: Citibank, Microsoft, Wal*Mart, Merrill Lynch, AOL.DE, UPS, and Starbucks Coffee.

WHY JAPANESE???????????

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World Language - Japanese

Japanese is a World Language. It expands the learners’ personal horizon while making the learner aware of significant details. It opens windows to another world full of cultural curiosities and new friends. One can understand a people through its language. Real life experiences and world language practice are crucial to learning a world language and understanding its culture.

Advantages to Japanese

Japanese is widely used in business situations with the Japanese.

Advantages to Japanese

Japanese language learners find that new experiences & relationships open to them through the language: exchange opportunities, competitions, trips both in the U.S. & to Japan, business & political contacts, Internet pen pals, fellow animation & manga fans.

Advantages to Japanese in Michigan

Strong economic relations between Japan & Michigan


Japanese Direct Investment in 2006

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

Facilities Total

Michigan

Ohio

Total


Japan is a leading investor in Michigan with at least 410 facilities across the state


Joint Ventures 13%

Wholly Japanese-owned 87%


Approximately 260 Michigan facilities are in industrial sectors whereas about 150 of the non-industrial Japanese facilities are in the commercial trade sector


1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

Years

7000

7300

7500

7800

7200

7200

7300

7500

7700

9000

8900

11000

1200

Japanese Population in Michigan

Global Advantages to Japanese

Country/ Economy

2006 Rank 2006 Score 2005 Rank Changes 2005-6

Switzerland 1 5.81 4 3

Finland 2 5.76 2 0

Sweden 3 5.74 7 4

Denmark 4 5.70 3 -1

Singapore 5 5.63 5 0

United States

6 5.61 1 -5

Japan 7 5.60 10 3

Germany 8 5.58 6 -2

Netherlands 9 5.56 11 2

United Kingdom

10 5.54 9 -1

GCI GCI GCI

Why Spanish?

Why Spanish?Why Spanish?Why Spanish?Why Spanish?Why Spanish?Why Spanish?Why Spanish?Why Spanish?

Advantages to Spanish

Spanish is one of the most spoken languages worldwide.


The US is the 5th largest Spanish speaking country in the world.


NAFTA, CAFTA, ALCA, & MERCOSUR have caused many manufacturing jobs to be relocated to Latin America. Hundreds of American companies have subsidiaries already established.


Due to the high number of Spanish speaking consumers, American businesses have recognized the benefit to anyone in any profession who speaks Spanish.


Spanish is one of the official languages of the United Nations, European Union, Organization of Americas States, and the Inter-American System.

Resources

World Economic ForumJapanese Consulate-General in Detroitwww.laprensa-sandiego.org/archieve/june25-04/dod.htmwww.associatedcontent.com/pop_print.shtml?content_type=article&content_type_id=222395www.universalhighways.com/foreign-language-careers.htmlwww.associatedcontent.com/pop_print.shtml?content_type=article&content_type_id=222415www.utm.edu/departments/french/flsat.htmlNational Language Conference Briefing Paper: The Nation’s Strategic Language Needswww.goethe.dewww.emich.edu/public/foreignlanguages/german/www.worldbridge.wayne.edu/germanbridge/whygermaninmichiganwww.macombdaily.comwww.gaccmi.orgwww.michigan.govResearch Points Spring 2006 Volume 4 Issue 1Education Update Wilcox, John. “Foreign Language Learning Gap Concerns U.S. Leaders”. P.3, 6.“A New Era for Foreign Languages”. Edwards, J. David. Executive Director, JNCL/NCLISwww.granadanicaraguaspanish.com/learn-spanish-courses-less..http://www.investinfrance.org/NorthAmerica/ChoosingFrance/SevenReasons/?=enhttp://www.thenewfrance.com/http://sandbox.ea.ecu.edu.au/projects/french_resources/motivation/whyfren.htm

World of World Languages

Prepared by Stevenson High School World Language Department:Cathy Dyer*Sherri Fisher-SinacolaJonathan KantorDenise Makuch*Jane O’BrienHelga Rom*Evelyn Ruiz*Melisia Taylor*Olivia Wylie

(*Research contributors)

Documents

World of World Languages