The value of foreign language education

The Value of Foreign Language Education Foreign Language Benefits: • Our World • Our Nation • Our State • Our Community • Our Students Foreign Language Benefits Our World • Understanding other cultures leads to respecting other cultures • The global economy can prosper through mutually beneficial trade Foreign Language Benefits Our Nation • Foreign language study is vital to the future economic welfare of the United States in a growing international economy • A shortfall of experts in foreign languages has seriously hampered information gathering and analysis within the American intelligence community Foreign Language Benefits Our State • To help Vermont companies grow in a global marketplace they need employees who understand and can operate in other cultures • Having a populace with foreign language expertise will help Vermont companies to grow in Vermont and will attract companies to our state Foreign Language Benefits Our Community • Schools with foreign language have higher test scores • Communities with strong public schools have higher property values • A foreign language program in our school will involve the whole community in learning about other cultures Foreign Language Benefits Our Students • Has a positive effect on intellectual growth • Enriches and enhances a child's mental development • Leaves students with more flexibility in thinking, greater sensitivity to language, and a better ear for listening • Improves a child's understanding of his/her native language • Gives a child the ability to communicate with people s/he would otherwise not have the chance to know • Opens the door to other cultures and helps a child understand and appreciate people from other countries • Gives a student a head start in language requirements for college • Increases job opportunities in many careers where knowing another Having a populace with knowledge of foreign languages is vital for: • Our Economy – Understanding and being able to interact with U.S and Vermont trading partners establishes a solid foundation for successful economic relationships; • Job Opportunities – American multinational corporations and nongovernmental organizations need people with foreign language abilities and cultural exposure • Our Security – People with foreign language expertise are needed to work on national security and foreign policy issues What would a Foreign Language Program look like? • One elementary school in CESU has Foreign Language instruction • Two 20 minute blocks a week could be dedicated to Foreign language • Vermont and National Standards for Foreign Language instruction exist How much would it cost? • Estimates range around $16,000 for JES • Cost to JES taxpayers would be around a penny on the tax rate How would we fit it in the school day? • Options include providing a foreign language instructor with responsive classroom training and conducting the responsive classroom section of the school day in a foreign language twice or three times a week What steps are needed to make it happen? • Conversation with teachers, staff, parents and community members must occur • A positive vote by the community to include foreign language instruction must occur • Hiring of a part time foreign language teacher must occur Moje vozilo na zračni blazini je polno jegulj 我我我我我我我我我我 Mijn hovercraft zit vol palingen Il mio hovercraft è pieno di anguille Légpárnás hajóm tele van angolnákkal ‫הרחפת שלי מלאה בצלופחים‬ Mia kusenveturilo estas plena da angiloj Mea navicula pendens anguillarum plena est 我我我我我我我我我我我我我我我我我 Mae fy hofrenfad yn llawn o lyswennod My hovercraft is full of eels Mi aerodeslizador está lleno de anguilas O meu hovercraft está chio das enguias Min svävare är full av ålar Luftputefartøyet mitt er fullt av ål Min svävare är full av ålar 我我我我我我我我我我 [ 我我我我我我我我我我 ] Mein Luftkissenfahrzeug ist voll mit Aalen Ilmatyynyalukseni on täynnä ankeriaita Hoverkraf saya penuh belut Mon aéroglisseur est plein d'anguilles എന്എന്എന് എന്എന് എന്എന്എന്എന് എന്എന്എന്-എന്എന്എന്എന്എന് എന്എന്എന്എന്എന് എന്എന് എന്എന്എന്എന് എന്എന്എന്എന്എന്എന്എന്