World of World Languages

1. World of World Languages Why do we need to embrace it?

2. Value of a second language • Second language learners’ exposure to new cultures & new horizons helps them understand English better.

3. Value of a second language or third • Foreign language learners place higher on both the ACT and the SAT verbal sections.

4. Value of a third language or a fourth • Foreign language learners show greater cognitive development, creativity, & divergent thinking than monolingual students.

5. Value of multilingualism • Multilingual students outscore monolingual students on tests of verbal & nonverbal intelligence.

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

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

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

9. Academic Benefits • Reading skills are transferable from one language to another.

10. Academic Benefits • World language/foreign language students significantly outperform their monolingual peers on tests.

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

12. Who is a “good candidate”? • Millions of people with a variety of intelligence levels as well as diverse upbringings become bilingual or multilingual.

13. Who’s a good candidate? • Common concerns question the peak age to begin world language study.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. What’s the Catch? • The nation’s requirements for language proficiency involve; National Security, Economic Competitiveness, & Social Well Being.

19. 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.

20. 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

21. What’s the Catch? • American national interests require that the current American leaders think more about international affairs than ever before.

22. 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

23. Economic Advantages • Foreign language proficiency is an enormous advantage in the business world.

24. Economic Advantages • It would benefit businesses to hire those who can communicate in foreign markets.

25. Economic Advantages • Someone will have to oversee the local national managers as businesses expand overseas.

26. 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.

27. 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.

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

29. 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)

30. Why French? • Why French? • Why French? • Why French? • Why French? • Why French? • Why French? • Why French? • Why French?

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

32. 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.

33. 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, 31-member Council of Europe, European Community, Universal Postal Union, International Red Cross, & the Union of International Associations.

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

35. Advantages to French • France & the US are the top 2 exporters in 3 sectors: defense products, agricultural goods, & services.

36. Advantages to French • French companies employ about 500,000 Americans. • US companies in France employ about 600,000 people.

37. 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).

38. 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.

39. Why German? • Why German? • Why German? • Why German? • Why German? • Why German? • Why German? • Why German? • Why German? • Why German?

40. Advantages to German? • English is a Germanic language: BETT/bed, GLAS/glass, SCHUH/shoe, LICHT/light, SONNE/sun, & MILCH/milk.

41. Advantages to German in Michigan? • German companies contribute approximately $31 billion to Michigan’s economy annually.

42. Advantages to German in Michigan? • Michigan has more people employed by German-owned companies than any other state.

43. Advantages to German in Michigan? • Around 610 Michigan companies are German-owned or have at least 50% German ownership.

44. Advantages to German in Michigan? • More than 75 Michigan-based companies have operations in Germany.

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

46. Advantages to German? • Major U.S. companies in Germany include: Citibank, Microsoft, Wal*Mart, Merrill Lynch, AOL.DE, UPS, and Starbucks Coffee.

47. WHY JAPANESE??????????? • WHY JAPANESE??????????? • WHY JAPANESE??????????? • WHY JAPANESE??????????? • WHY JAPANESE??????????? • WHY JAPANESE??????????? • WHY JAPANESE??????????? • WHY JAPANESE??????????? • WHY JAPANESE???????????

48. 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.

49. Advantages to Japanese • Japanese is widely used in business situations with the Japanese.

50. 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.