Advocacy
Here are some documents and statistics to get you started on your advocacy resource folder.
Jump straight to correlation statements and research
Looking for 21st century skills for our students? Don’t forget world languages!
Article by Nicole Naditz, NBCT
Bella Vista High School
Advocacy Chair, California Language Teachers’ Association Feb. 21, 2010
World Languages are a 21s Century Skill article
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Phi-Delta-Kappa study finds that American public values language learning
Check out these figures from the 2007 Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll:
The following are tables that we thought may be of interest to the field. They were copied from the 39 th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll.
TABLE 37. Should students spend more time than they now do on learning about other nations of the world and the way people live there, or do you think they already spend enough time now? (In 1980, this question was asked of parents only.)
National Totals |
No Children in School |
Public School Parents |
||||||
'07 |
'80 |
'07 |
'80 |
'07 |
'80 |
|||
| Spend more time | 57 |
-- |
58 |
-- |
55 |
45 |
||
| Spend enough time | 40 |
-- |
39 |
-- |
44 |
46 |
||
| Don't know | 3 |
-- |
3 |
-- |
1 |
9 |
||
TABLE 38. How important do you believe it is for all children in the United States to learn a second language in addition to English? Is it very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not important at all?
National |
No Children |
Public School |
|
'07 |
'07 |
'07 |
|
| Very + somewhat important | 85 |
85 |
85 |
| Very important | 48 |
48 |
47 |
| Somewhat important | 37 |
37 |
38 |
| Not very important | 9 |
9 |
9 |
| Not important at all | 6 |
6 |
6 |
| Not very + not at all important | 15 |
15 |
15 |
| Don't know | * |
* |
* |
| *Less than one-half of 1%. | |||
TABLE 39. In your opinion, should instruction in a second language, that is, in addition to English, begin in elementary school, middle school, or in high school?
National |
No Children |
Public School |
|
'07 |
'07 |
'07 |
|
| Elementary school | 70 |
69 |
72 |
| Middle school | 18 |
18 |
18 |
| High school | 11 |
11 |
10 |
| Don't know | 1 |
2 |
* |
| *Less than one-half of 1%. | |||
FINDING: It seems fair to say that the public understands the fact that we are living in an ever-smaller world, that language facility is important, and that children should learn a second language at an early age.
Correlation Statements and Research
NEW!!! Study published in Forbes shows American businesses need workers skilled in world languages
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Research Page this page includes correlation statements organized in three categories:
- How does language learning support academic achievement?
- How does language learning provide cognitive benefits to students?
- How does language learning affect attitudes and beliefs about language learning and about other cultures?
Bingualism delays onset of dementia
British study finds language education improves test scores (November, 2006)
Found in Translation -Sacramento Bee
Rationale For Foreign Lang Education
importance of langs powerpoint.ppt
Issue Brief: Foreign Language Skills
Is Bilingualism Valued in the U.S. Labor Market?
Learn a Foreign Language blog
Foreign Languages: An Essential Core Experience
Survey data regarding multilingualism and jobsPage from Champs Elysées, Inc., with numerous survey results regarding the benefits of language proficiency for jobs and careers.