As a language teacher, I feel my department is constantly struggling to fit "in". We seem to be caught in the middle between required courses and electives. Students are required to take 2 years of a foreign language in High School if they are planning to attend college. Sometimes we are considered to be a core subject because the grades earned in language courses count toward the GPA and the courses are weighted as College Prep, Honors and Advanced Placement. However, there is no language requirement for graduation.
In other countries, the children begin to study English at an early age. Why is it that my district only begins to offer foreign language in 7th grade? Research shows that learning a foreign language improves critical thinking skills and creativity. Students also generally score higher on standardized tests and perform better in other subjects. The study of a world language and culture prepares students to compete in a global society and provides them with insight into the diverse and complex world in which we live.
Technology is bringing the world closer together. We can Skype with friends and family around the world, send messages instantly circumventing the globe and yet we don’t see how important it is to learn another language. It is just an “extra”. So my question is: Is English enough? Wouldn’t studying another language help us compete in this global society? What skills do you feel are necessary for our kids to have as the world becomes a smaller place?
Adrienne, I absolutely agree that world languages are a necessity to our ever-growing global society. My daughter is learning Spanish at 5...but in a parochial school, and to be honest, it's a selling point. My husband works for a major plastics corporation and fluency, particularly in Spanish, is a desirable attribute in salesmen and executives. Some possibilities I see lie in virtual courses, particularly those like mine, who cannot afford to offer many languages. I also think there is room to include programs like Rosetta Stone, offering it to younger students. I hark bark to my mispent youth, checking out the same French record set (yes, I said it!) from the public library...and though I haven't used it much (I did impress my husband in Quebec), knowing enough about another language has been beneficial...not to mention what learning another language did for my understanding of the structures of English!
ReplyDeleteVery good point about globalization and foreign languages. As Thomas Friedman says, "the world is flat". View his "World Is Flat" video at http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/519. He makes many great references as you did on how technology is helping to flatten the world. I also agree that technology classes need to filtering into the elementary curriculum, while still being taught in the high schools. I understand that children are using technology at an earlier age than in the past.
ReplyDeleteDon't you think that the earlier we begin to learn technology than the more technology we can learn? Technology is changing at a such a fast rate that it is difficult to keep up with. The sooner we begin to learn technology the more technology we should be able to use.
Mary,
ReplyDeleteDo you have any experience with Rosetta Stone?
Brad,
ReplyDeleteI agree that the speed at which technology is emerging makes it difficult to keep up. I never really thought about beginning technology with the kids because I feel like they are growing up right along with it. The learning curve for them is so different than what adults are experiencing. My toddler can find her favorite YouTube videos and does wonder with her grandmother "old" iPhone.
First, I agree with you about speaking a second language. It is important in today's world, even if only to expose the students to an additional culture. Secondly, around the Chicago area, foreign language is a required course in high school. Each student must have completed 2 years. They can apply and get accepted into college with only 2 years, but a highly rated flagship university like Illinois requires the students to have 4 years of a foreign language to graduate from college. This means that my boys, who were accepted with 2 years, had to take a foreign language for 2 more years while in college. They went 2 summers, every morning from 8-10:00 a.m. How did I entice them those years? I said I would buy breakfast. Well, this was the summer I should have bought stock in McDonalds.
ReplyDeleteAdrienne, I totally agree with you. No, English is not enough! In fact, I did a Google search and found a link to the "Top 10 most Spoken Languages in the World:" http://tinyurl.com/3gjv6np
ReplyDeleteI also checked out Wikipedia to see if they agreed with the above link: http://tinyurl.com/oh4mj
English is not the #1 spoken language, yet we expect everyone to speak English. Also, I think the information on these links is skewed, because many U.S. citizens choose not to learn a second language.
I have often times asked some of the same questions you have asked. Why aren't we teaching foreign languages at an earlier age? I have a friend who has a grandson who lives in Mexico. He is bilingual . . . very fluent in English and Spanish. Of course he has spoken both languages since he could talk.
Studying other languages would definitely help us compete in a global society. The world is getting "flatter" as we speak. Check out Bradley's link to Thomas Friedman's "The World is Flat."
In Iowa we refer to the skills that all students should have to compete in society as Universal Constructs. Those include: Critical Thinking, Complex Communication, Creativity, Collaboration, Flexibility and Adaptability, and Productivity and Accountability. Wouldn't acquisition of a foreign language help with this? Here is a link to what the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages has to say about that: http://tinyurl.com/3law8vm
Thanks, Peggy. Both you and Brad referenced Thomas Friedman's "The World is Flat". I checked out the link Brad gave for it. Very interesting. You don't need to convince me that FLES programs are wonderful. I wish we could integrate another language into all elementary schools.
ReplyDeleteAdrienne,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree with you more. As you and others have stated, we are living in a global age. We are preparing students for THEIR futures and the world of their future. Companies have sites all over the world. My sister works with people from different countries (interacting through technology) on projects for her job. I remember her saying one time how important it is for all team members to be aware of others language, culture, beliefs, etc. So that controversy does not occur within the team. For example, if team members misinterpret others due to use of slang terms, or team members not understanding why another does not want to meet to discuss the project on December 24 at 4:00 pm. Awareness is essential to maintaining a positive collaborative atmosphere that results in productivity.
Within my own district, there are students from diverse cultures and various native languages. Teaching more than one language to students as well as exposing students to cultural beliefs at young ages will further promote the collaborative learning process used in today's education.
Great questions, Adrienne!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your perspective (and our classmates' perspectives) of foreign languages at the elementary level. Introducing students at a younger age makes a lot more sense for the reasons already listed. I think that coupling the learning of another language with an understanding of a foreign culture is extremely important "as the world becomes a smaller place." Such an approach would afford deeper understanding of a language and an appreciation of cultures different from ours.
In conversations with colleagues in my graduate classes, introducing foreign languages at the elementary level is difficult to achieve administratively. Sadly, the lack of funding commitments from administration seems to be a huge hurdle. It is a shame that money can sometimes prohibit us from giving students what they really need.
Adrienne,
ReplyDeleteGreat question and I think YES! But can we also produce a standardized test to make sure the students are getting taught properly? I think the culture for those who make educational policy have been swayed so greatly by the big businesses who want to tap into the riches of publicly funded school systems, that we have greatly lost our way in producing children who know how to ask the question "Why?" with a desire to find an authentic answer. So many schools have needed to cut their art and other "non-academic" courses due to budget restraints and the need to free up time so teachers could "teach" the test so our students can prove we have earned our pay. We have moved away from educating a child in hopes that s/he becomes a life-long learner. I am afraid that the current definition of a well-rounded student is one who scores proficient or greater on State standardized tests.
It has been a long week and I could be a little cynical at the moment.. I hope so.
Kari
Hi again! Learning a second language is so much more than just learning to speak another language. The amount of real-world applications and lessons on culture are infinite. My district previously offered an exploratory language class in 8th grade where students would be exposed to Spanish and French. The next year it was Spanish and Latin (I am guessing because they discontinued the French program). The following year was German. And, now due to more budget cuts, we have no language offerings in 8th grade. I have always felt that 8th grade was too late, but was glad that my district at least made an attempt. It is ridiculous in this day and age that students are not even given the chance to broaden their horizons with a language until 9th grade. If we want our students to be able to compete with others, how is this going to benefit them in the long run? Waiting until 9th grade is too late for many!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with learning a second or even third language other than English. Our country alone is well diversed in other languages besides English, but yet we only start focusing on the option of learning another language in middle school. Many studies have shown that the younger a child learns a language, the more apt it will remain in their vocabulary of speaking throughout their lives. I know I took two languages in high school and in college and do not remember very much of either language. This could not only be partly due to the timing of learning it, but also because there was a lack of immersing myself into the culture of the language. As you have pointed out, technology has elevated the options available with learning a new language. Students can Skype with other students across the globe.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.funwithforeignlanguage.com/Benefits.html
I am with you 100%. Learning another language is something that everyone should take part in. We expect everyone to be well-rounded individuals, but in most cases, people are stuck in their own little bubble that only reflects their own culture. Learning the language and the culture of another group of individuals would be beneficial to everyone and should be a requirement in school.
ReplyDelete