In order to keep up with the global economy, the government needs to introduce a proficient language plan, which will aid students in growing up to become the leaders of America. Although plans such as these can be pricey, they are most certainly worth it. Other countries will soon overtake America’s economy at the rate things are going. Foreign countries already have a head start in language education. To bring our economy back to normal, we need educated, multi-lingual, business-minded people to handle out economy exports.
Our nation needs a program that will begin teaching students growing languages such as Hindu, Mandarin Chinese, and Portuguese, at a young age. This program must be capable of making a child fluent in one, if not several languages. As the common cliché goes, the nation’s children today will be the nation’s leaders tomorrow. We need multi-lingual’s in the work force, and program like this can get us the people we need.
Other countries have a head start at teaching their youth growing languages. In China and Korea, mandatory English instruction begins at age 8, and in Brazil, age 11. English speaking countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia are beginning foreign language programs at a younger age. Not to mention, most other developed countries begin foreign language instruction between the ages of five and ten, the instruction is mandatory, and is tested with core subjects. The U.S. needs to realize, our competitors are getting stronger, while we are lying around doing nothing.
You can compare other countries language learning to ours in which we are slowly falling behind. In the U.S. language classes are usually put off until at least age fourteen and are often optional. We have no state or nationa...
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... need a multi-lingual foreign language program. American schools should better prepare students for a real world job.
Language programs are not cheap. The government cut the Foreign Language Assistance Programs budget form twenty six million dollars, to nothing at all in 2011.What the government fails to realize is, you cannot put a price on the future of your country. No matter what the cost, foreign language programs should be funded for America’s future.
As the people who have freedom of speech, we need to push the program. We should be writing letters to political figures of all positions. It’s the students who are in our schools now that are going to be making important decisions like these one day. Foreign language is a key asset to the growth, development, and stability of our country. As we push for a program, it can only make our country a better place.
Moreover, I believe that there is a solution to this by creating an adult program for non-English speakers to help them learn English and also providing career paths for them to be able to have a good living gain at the end of the programs to be able to provide jobs for them to help feed their
America’s educational system is home to an increasing number of English language learners. Some research indicates that by the year 2030, over 40% of elementary and secondary students served by schools in the United States will come from homes where a language other than English is spoken (Thomas & Collier, 2001). In an effort to accommodate these students, the United States has adopted policies at both the federal and state levels. Generally, the direction taken to meet the needs of English language learners has depended on the climate of the nation. During times of peace and prosperity, policies reflect the nation’s tolerance of other languages and cultures. However, during times of war or conflict, policies have reflected intolerance or fear of anything deemed “un-American.”
Not to mention, speaking English is a part of American heritage. Society should adapt to American culture and values, which means all American citizens should speak the nation’s primary language: English. If people refuse to speak and/or learn English, those individuals are rejecting American culture. America has always been extremely accepting and welcoming to all people of different backgrounds, so people should accept and adopt America’s primary language as well(Ciamarra). By establishing a common language among all people, the nation will thrive and
Expert opinions used in McGray’s article are used to offer different perspective of other professionals and experts who weigh in on the discussion. Even though the audience knows McGray’s credibility, more evidence is needed on why the lack of foreign education is a big deal in America. McGray uses the authors of the 1975 Helsinki Accords, which promoted the study of foreign languages, to further illustrate his point quoting, “‘The United States requires far more reliable capacities to communicate with allies, analyze behavior of potential adversaries’”(). The quote beautifully demonstrates how even officials 40 years ago were concerned about the education system not incorporating foreign education in the curriculum. McGray utilizes the quote to show how even in 1975 people were concerned about the lack of foreign education, signifying that this has always been a problem and must be changed. McGray also adds in this expert opinion to offer how learning another language would benefit the future. It would allow workers to better communicate in their careers and analyze possible opportunities in another country. McGray argues, through expert opinions, that there are actually benefits to learning multiple languages. McGray presents these professional’s idea in his article to help strengthen his point and offer multiple ideas on the issue. Professional opinions are
In parts of Canada, where there are two languages, children are taught both languages. If we had an official language, we would be responsible for insuring that everyone gets a chance to learn the language. As seen in the statutes of Section 3-3-31 of the Mississippi code, “.the purpose (of the statutes) was not to discourage foreign language instruction nor, for that matter, bilingual education, although the presumption was that such programs be “transitional” and designed to move non-English speakers into classes taught in English as soon as possible.” (Juan 79).... ...
Spanish should be required to be taken as a second language in grades K-9. American students should be required to speak Spanish fluently upon completion of their 8th grade year. Other societies such as Pakistan, Japan, and China can demonstrate proficiency in 3 or 4 languages by middle school years. "A child taught a second language after the age of 10 or so is unlikely ever to speak it like a native," said a February 1996 Newsweek article. Through extensive research it has been proven that the earlier a child is introduced to a second language the greater the chances are that this child will master both languages. A number of experts attribute this mastery to physiological changes that occur in the maturing brain as a child enters puberty.
In the United States of America we have become a large melting pot of ethnic and cultural peoples. Along with these peoples have come many different languages and alphabets. However the US has been seen as a mostly English speaking country. Yet many of this country's newcomers do not speak English. Adults and children alike come into the US speaking and writing only their native tongue. This poses a huge gap in communication. If the adults are unable to teach their children English, then it becomes the school districts' responsibility. However to make learning easier on the child, many school districts choose to teach the child in their native language, while they receive English lessons on the side.
The United States is filled with many different ethnicities, cultures, customs, languages, etc. Supposedly, our public schools are equipped with classes, teachers, curriculums and materials in order to educate that part of the student population whose first language is something other than the English language. Bilingual classes, transitional classes, ESL classes are just a few of the programs that have been developed to instruct non-English speaking students in order for them to acquire the English language.
Right now, imagine a person in a future job. More than likely that person will encounter somebody speaking a language besides their native tongue. If someone would find themselves in that position, would they be prepared? There is a growing need for translators and other jobs that require a different language other than English. Demands for bilingual workers have doubled in the past five years, and employers say that job is now one of the highest requests by employers when applying for a job opportunity in the US. The Army, NYPD, and the State Department all can’t get enough workers with this important job skill (Kurtz). A second language should be mandatory in American schools because it makes employees more marketable, creates social interaction with different cultures, and increases cognitive skills.
Children are better learners than adults except in the area of the pronunciation of words. That is why the second language program will be accepting children who are in elementary, they will be taught how to read signs, and learn how to speak in the desired second language. The objective goal of the second language program is to get students ready to speak another language as if it were their primary language. The second language program will not be as any other school program because it will require dedication, responsibility, and focus. Kids now are lazy and also don’t communicate well with other people, which is important because they will need to know how to communicate when they graduate high school, but because they were not taught how to they are lacking that skill. Students because they are being taught out the book they don’t get to learn different skills that will be useful when they leave high school. In the program students won’t be learning straight off the book they will be assigned a pen pal who they will be writing to not in English but in their chosen second language, and every so often they will talk on Skype this will show if they are understanding the language; with the interaction that the students will be doing they will develop communicative skills that will be helpful when they are out of high
Dual language is a form of education in which students are taught to read and write in two languages. The majority of dual language programs in the United States teach in English and Spanish, although there are emerging programs that teach in Mandarin, Japanese and Hindi. The programs start of mostly in kindergarten sand 1st grade and continue throughout primary education, in addition some dual language programs depending on the grade continue through middle and high school. Even Hayward’s own Burbank elementary and Winton middle school are offering dual language programs. Each level of teaching uses a different language ratio in which class is instructed the classes start off with a 90:10 ration and later as years pass the ration becomes a steady 50:50 (Lindholm-Leary, Kathryn J,2001). The goals of dual language immersion programs are to get children to become both bi-literate and bilingual, in other words, they will be able to speak and write fluently in two different languages. Dual language programs are becoming more and more common most of them are in public school but there are some beginning to become present private and charter schools. Dual language education should be introduced in all elementary schools beginning in the Kindergarten to boost achievement for English language learners, benefits it will bring to the community, outstanding brain benefits and lastly cost efficiency in education across the United States.
The bilingual education programs that are in existence now are not completely successful. In these classes, the teachers are teaching in mostly Spanish and very limited English. When the non-English speaking students are put in to a separate class, they are segregated and are not assimilated with the English-speaking students. This keeps them from learning in an English only situation, which makes them learn English faster. This also prevents English speaking students from not knowing total extent of culture and background of peers in their own schools. In addition to that, it doesn't give non-English students a reason to really learn English if they are going to be taught in their native tongue most of the time. When that happens, it hurts those students in the long run. They won't know enough English to communicate in the American society, and they'll be doomed if they can't live in the American society. Richard E. Ferraro, "When you're talking about language," he argued, "English is essential for success in this count...
...s Bilingual Education seem impressive on the surface, but in reality, there are many prevalent issues that policymakers have conveniently overlooked which affects other monolingual children who are ‘underrepresented’ and forced into a Bilingual Education. Jill critiqued that the current ‘drip-feed’ system; in which students are exposed to Mother Tongue for only two periods a day is clearly insufficient and students should be offered more languages that are of interest to them. As Jill sips her coffee, she contemplates the future of her children. Will they go through the same experience? Which Mother Tongue must she choose for them? Will this experience be a vicious cycle? Jill vowed to provide the best for her children but as for herself, her adamant refusal to acknowledge Malay as a second language has successfully reverted her back to be the striving monolingual.
As time goes by and as the global community develops, the world grows more and more international, making second or third language acquisition become necessary to the majority. With the growing importance of multiple language ability, more and more parents think of bilingual or multilingual education, which means acquisitions of two or more languages, for their kids. In fact, we do have many reasons showing why multilingual education is important and beneficial, such as aspects of interpersonal relationship, employment, brain health, and so on.
In today’s schooling system most high school students are required to take at least 2 to 4 years of a foreign language in order to graduate. However, some people do not understand the importance of taking a different language, until it is time to get a job or while they are in their current job. It is significant that we take at least 2 years of a foreign language in both high school and college and try to learn as much as possible because learning a new language can open up so many doors.