Transcript 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.
Who’s a good candidate?
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.
Who’s a good candidate?
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.
Who’s a good candidate?
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 nonEnglish 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, & Commerce
Banking & Financial Positions
Technical & Engineering Positions
Secretarial & Clerical Positions
Government & International
Local Government
International – United Nations
Teaching
Translators & Interpreters
Media
Travel & Tourism
Services (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.
Advantages to French
French is the official working language of:
the United Nations, UNESCO, NATO,
Organization for Economic Cooperation &
Development, International Labor Bureau,
International Olympic Committee, 31member Council of Europe, European
Community, Universal Postal Union,
International Red Cross, & the Union of
International Associations.
Advantages to French
French is spoken by our largest
trading partner: Canada. Quebec
Province is the US’ 5th largest trading
partner.
Advantages to French
France & the US are the top 2
exporters in 3 sectors: defense
products, agricultural goods, &
services.
Advantages to French
French companies employ about
500,000 Americans.
US companies in France employ
about 600,000 people.
Advantages to French
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).
Advantages to French
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.
Advantages to German in
Michigan?
Michigan has more people employed
by German-owned companies than
any other state.
Advantages to German in
Michigan?
Around 610 Michigan companies are
German-owned or have at least 50%
German ownership.
Advantages to German in
Michigan?
More than 75 Michigan-based
companies have operations in
Germany.
Advantages to German?
Major German companies in the U.S.
include: Siemens, ThyssenKrupp,
TMobile, Bayer, Adidas, Audi, Braun,
Deutsche Bank.
Advantages to German?
Major U.S. companies in Germany
include: Citibank, Microsoft, Wal*Mart,
Merrill Lynch, AOL.DE, UPS, and
Starbucks Coffee.
WHY JAPANESE???????????
WHY JAPANESE???????????
WHY JAPANESE???????????
WHY JAPANESE???????????
WHY JAPANESE???????????
WHY JAPANESE???????????
WHY JAPANESE???????????
WHY JAPANESE???????????
WHY JAPANESE???????????
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
Advantages to Japanese in
Michigan
Japanese Direct Investment in 2006
120000
100000
80000
Michigan
Ohio
Total
60000
40000
20000
0
Facilities
Total
Advantages to Japanese in
Michigan
Japan is a leading investor in
Michigan with at least 410 facilities
across the state
Advantages to Japanese in
Michigan
Joint Ventures 13%
Wholly Japanese-owned 87%
Advantages to Japanese in
Michigan
Approximately 260 Michigan facilities
are in industrial sectors whereas
about 150 of the non-industrial
Japanese facilities are in the
commercial trade sector
Advantages to Japanese in
Michigan
Japanese Population in Michigan
2006
2004
2002
2000
1998
1996
1994
1992
1990
Years
7000
7300
7500
7800
7200
7200
7300
7500
7700
9000
8900
11000
1200
Global Advantages to Japanese
GCI
GCI
GCI
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
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.
Advantages to Spanish
The US is the 5th largest Spanish
speaking country in the world.
Advantages to Spanish
NAFTA, CAFTA, ALCA, &
MERCOSUR have caused many
manufacturing jobs to be relocated to
Latin America. Hundreds of American
companies have subsidiaries already
established.
Advantages to Spanish
Due to the high number of Spanish
speaking consumers, American
businesses have recognized the
benefit to anyone in any profession
who speaks Spanish.
Advantages to Spanish
Spanish is one of the official
languages of the United Nations,
European Union, Organization of
Americas States, and the InterAmerican System.
Resources
World Economic Forum
Japanese Consulate-General in Detroit
www.laprensa-sandiego.org/archieve/june25-04/dod.htm
www.associatedcontent.com/pop_print.shtml?content_type=article&content_type_id=222395
www.universalhighways.com/foreign-language-careers.html
www.associatedcontent.com/pop_print.shtml?content_type=article&content_type_id=222415
www.utm.edu/departments/french/flsat.html
National Language Conference Briefing Paper: The Nation’s Strategic Language Needs
www.goethe.de
www.emich.edu/public/foreignlanguages/german/
www.worldbridge.wayne.edu/germanbridge/whygermaninmichigan
www.macombdaily.com
www.gaccmi.org
www.michigan.gov
Research Points Spring 2006 Volume 4 Issue 1
Education 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/NCLIS
www.granadanicaraguaspanish.com/learn-spanish-courses-less..
http://www.investinfrance.org/NorthAmerica/ChoosingFrance/SevenReasons/?=en
http://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-Sinacola
Jonathan Kantor
Denise Makuch*
Jane O’Brien
Helga Rom*
Evelyn Ruiz*
Melisia Taylor*
Olivia Wylie
(*Research contributors)