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Today there are between six and seven thousand languages being spoken around the world. Millions of children all over the world are learning a second or even third language beginning before they reach high school. For instance, China has more than two hundred million students studying English in elementary school, while the United States has a mere twenty-four thousand learning Chinese (Glod 1). The lack of bilingualism has become an ever-increasing problem in the United States’ ability to compete globally with other economically powerful countries. Satellite programming, increased international travel, and the use of the Internet in different parts of the world have created a global community. No single country can produce all the goods and services that are needed to exist autonomously. Because of this, children have the opportunity to become powerful political and business leaders of the future. Therefore, the need for a second language has become progressively more imperative. Through many studies and reports, experts have determined that the best time to learn a foreign language is during elementary school. However, according to the U.S Department of Education, in the United States only 24% of public elementary schools report teaching a foreign language during this time.
This being said, a problem exists. Only 44% of high school students are currently enrolled in foreign language classes. While Spanish comprises 69% and French makes up additional 18% of their enrollment (Department of Education). Less than 1% combined of these students study languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Japanese, Korean, and Russian. During George W. Bush’s presidency, Bush addressed the issue and determined that the United States needs more ...
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...hildren have the opportunity to broaden their horizons personally and professionally.
Works Cited
Cognitive Benefits of Learning Language. American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language, Fall 2007. Web. 1 June 2012.
Glod, Maria. “Schools Try Elementary Approach To Teaching Foreign Languages.” Washington Post 8 Aug. 2006. Print.
Marcos, Kathleen. Why, How, and When Should My Child Learn a Second Language?
Kids Source, 26 July 2000. Web. 2 June 2012.
Raab, Nina. “The Cognitive Benefits of Learning a Second Language.” Fusion Huntington Beach. N.p., 27 Nov. 2011. Web. 1 June 2012.
Snuggs, Carla, ed. Foreign Language in Preschool: The Benefits of Teaching Multiple
Languages in Daycare or Preschool. Suite 101, 28 Jan. 2008. Web. 30 May 2012.
Why We Need to Learn a Foreign Language Young! Cracking the Learning Code, n.d. Web. 30 May 2012.
Jost, Kenneth. “Bilingual education vs. English immersion.” CQ Researecher. 11 December 2009. 19, 1029-1052. Web. 17 Feb. 2011
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Data gathered from the American Community Survey (ACS) report in 2007 on the percentage of U.S. population, age 5 and over, relates that out of 281 million people, 55.4 million are speaking a language other than English at home. This segment of population constitutes over 24% and it has increased from 1980 to 2007 more than 140%. Out of the 55.4 million people whose primary language is other than English, 62% are Spanish language speakers, founding the largest group of foreign language speakers in the United States (Shin & Kominski, 2010).
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Having heard that with each language one learns, the next becomes easier, I have always through that learning languages does something incredibly beneficial for the brain. Research on the subject seems to indicate that in fact there are plenty of benefits of multilingualism spawning the phrase “the bilingual advantage.”
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For the purposes of this paper, I have defined adulthood as including any person who is at or above the age of eighteen, because there is so little research on language learning in early adulthood versus middle or late adulthood. It is not possible to find studies about particular divisions of adulthood that have been verified by subsequent research trials, so I have included research about all ages of adulthood. Throughout this paper, I will discuss the major aspects of the body of research literature that separates adult second language learning from that of natural bilingual persons, including full immersion into the language, biological and neurological factors, the structure of both the native and second languages, age of acqui...
Language has pioneered many interracial relationships and historical milestones. Language is a necessity for basic communication and cultural diversity. Being multilingual is a skill proven influential to a successful future. Due to rapid globalization, countries all over the world are stressing the importance of learning a second, or even third, language. With the exception of time and lack of resources, adults have very few widely applicable disadvantages to learning multiple languages. However, language learning as a child presents more complications. Some of those include not having enough funding at the elementary school level to introduce a program for secondary language, academic overload for the youth, stress for both the parent and student parties, and the mixing of languages. Not all of these complications are true in any or all situations, however, and the absence of them provides multitudes of opportunity for future career and academic success. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the parents or the education legislation to decide whether they encourage the learning of a secondary language at the young age necessary for retention. “The general consensus is that it takes between five to seven years for an individual to achieve advanced fluency,” therefore the younger a child begins to learn, the more likely they are to benefit to the maximum potential (Robertson). Keeping the language learning in high school or beginning the process earlier is a greatly controversial discussion that is important to address because of the topic’s already lengthy suspension.
Therefore, this is able to encourage the ability to communicate and appreciate the depth and diversity of the world. Communication with two different countries, or three, or four, will further bring the world closer together, in hopes of closing the divide between some countries. By learning a second language, it can significantly broaden your native language as it gives you stronger vocabulary skills, improved literacy skills and a better understanding of the grammar and construction of your own native language. Furthermore, this can help you in other educational studies. Though it is possible to travel to another country without acquiring the native language, the experience you will have is greatly diminished as you will not see beyond the surface of their culture. Additionally, knowing the native language makes travelling easier, by being able to order meals in restaurants, ask and understand directions. Additionally, it makes it easier to find accommodation, it’s more enjoyable, informative and more satisfying. You are able to further understand and appreciate international literature, music and films, by being able to understand word plays, innuendoes, cultural references, metaphors and further improve your ability to speak the
In 2009, teachers of a New Jersey school banned foreign languages and stated, “any language other than English will not be tolerated" (Debaron 1). This situation was soon no longer allowed. While over ten percent of the total adolescent education systems contain emergent bilinguals, a whopping sixty percent of those students are educated in only English (Bale). Maria Estela Brisk, a Boston College Education professor, believes, “schools has wasted much energy in the search for a "perfect" model and the best way to learn English” when they could just focus on proving “quality education” to every student in the system (1). Teacher’s main priority should consist of effectively teaching their students to prepare them for the future, but currently there are a lack of certified bilingual education teachers. When students are taught more in different ways, they can educationally benefit their cognitive abilities, involving the brain with “mathematics, problem solving, logic and memory”, can be improved to create an overall better student. Even by learning another language at a earlier age can contribute to __________. Learning another language will be
Learning another language provides high rewards including “improved cultural understandings, communication abilities and job prospects.” (Preston and Seedhouse, 2013) Because of the rapid development of technology, applying an array of media is being presented to students in different parts of the world in an effort to achieve different purposes such as educational needs.
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