Language In The 21st Century
By Peggy Sommermeyer – Teacher, Woodside High School
Willi Brandt, former Chancellor of West Germany, once said, “Wenn Sie verkaufen und ich kaufe, sprechen wir Deutsch. Aber wenn Sie kaufen und ich verkaufe, dann sprechen wir Ihre Sprache.“ Which translates, “When you’re selling and I’m buying, we speak German. But when you’re buying and I’m selling, then we speak your language.” What language will you be speaking in the 21st century?
In June, NNPS will be sending out its newest graduates into the real world. Our economy is in a recession and no one knows how long the recession will last. In order for our graduates to be competitive in these tough economic times, they will need to be proficient in all 21st century skills. One of these skills is communication. Acquiring second language skills is not just limited to learning to speak the language; it also includes learning about culture, traditions, and respecting others. Through this learning process our graduates will gain global awareness.
Did you know there are 120 German speaking firms in Virginia and three German speaking firms in Newport News? Now imagine you are lucky enough to get a job with one of these firms and you get sent to Germany to close a business deal. If you do not speak German, you would certainly be at a disadvantage. You could have an interpreter there, but how can you be sure the interpreter is really communicating your ideas accurately? If you don’t believe me, ask any of my colleagues if they have watched a movie with perfectly translated subtitles. They will most likely say, “No.” So, why would you trust a stranger to convey your ideas?
Many of our graduates will be lucky enough to go to college first before entering the job market in several years. Having acquired second language skills in high school will be beneficial to them in their higher education. According to the University of Virginia’s German Department, “German is especially beneficial in music, art, law, philosophy, religion, psychology, history, political science, and engineering. German scientists are world leaders in: engineering, pharmaceuticals, pollution control, and natural resources.” It would be advantageous to be able to read their research and books if they had not yet been translated to English.
Do you think it is important for our students to speak a second language in this global marketplace?
April 16th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Thought you might be interested in this article on Converge: http://www.convergemag.com/artsandhumanities/Languages-in-2020.html
April 17th, 2009 at 7:02 am
I think that this is an excellent topic and idea. The only thing is – in Europe and other countries, chidren are taught their native language and another language from when they start school on through to graduation. I think, in order for our students to truly have a 2nd language literacy, that we need to encourage knowledge of a 2nd language from the beginning.
April 17th, 2009 at 7:23 am
I completely agree with one of the other responders. Americans are really behind the rest of the world when it comes to speaking second languages. So many other countries teach English in their schools. I recently moved to another district that offers a language immersion program from 1st grade up so that my daughter will have the advantage of speaking two languages fluently. In other districts in VA many different language immersion programs are offered and these students are leaving their schools to become highly successful and in demand. I believe that in order to give our students a fair chance in the world they will be working in they need to speak at least 2 languages, so they don’t fall behind.
April 17th, 2009 at 7:57 am
I agree that our NNPS students would benefit from being exposed to other languages early in their educational career. With emergence of cartoons such as Dora “The Explorer”, Handy Manny, and others; children are being exposed and speaking vocabulary of other languages as early as age 2.
There are also online sites advocating communication in the global marketplace such as Web-a-Dex. See: http://www.web-a-dex.com/translate.htm
Anyone can type in their language and have it translated into another with the click of a button! What a wonderful tool for our youth.
April 17th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Learning a second or third language is very essential for our students. Competing in a global market without a second or third language puts our U.S. students behind other nations. All public schools should offer language learning–such as French , Spanish, Arabic, German, and Chinese . Language learning should be for fun–starting in first grade. When students learn about the culture of another country, it sparks a lot of interest ! Let’s promote Foreign Languages in elementary school, middle, and high school !
April 17th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Having traveled extensively to countries in Europe and the Caribbean, I am always amazed how easy it is to find someone who speaks fluent English. I think our students are truly behind in their ability to speak a second language, and they will continue to lag behind unless we begin foreign language instruction at an early age.
I didn’t start taking French until high school. There simply wasn’t enough time to become proficient. Even starting in 6th or 7th grade is far too late.
Our students need to be more globally aware of other cultures as well. Learning foreign customs, courtesies, and language would go a long way in today’s world and should no longer be considered a “frill” of education. Whether deployed in the Middle East or working in a locally based foreign-run business, these skills undoubtedly would improve a person’s chances for a successful career.
April 18th, 2009 at 10:05 am
I read this Thinking Thursday blog primarily because you did it–good job! Made me wish I’d had a great language teacher like you in high school. I took French and the teacher was a real skatter brain! I waa able to converse for about 30 minutes with a French lady when I was in Paris “years ago” but I certainly would never have been able to close a business deal!
April 21st, 2009 at 12:10 pm
We were just talking about this very idea, that the world is smaller because of technology. It only takes the click of a mouse to “travel” to another continent. We need to recognize that we are all part of a global community. The students watched this clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL9Wu2kWwSY
and then we talked about it using a Likert Scale evaluation activity. Keep in mind these are seventh graders. After they rated each statement, they chose one that they rated a 4 or 5 and wrote to explain WHY they gave that statement a high rating. Many students recognize the impact of being able to speak a second language, especially that it will help them in their careers.
Evaluation Activity for “Did You Know?” video clip:
Evaluate the video’s information. On a scale of 1 to 5, rate the impact of that information on you. Circle the number next to each statement that best describes your feeling.
1=no impact on me at all 2= it has a little impact on me right now 3=it probably will impact me by the time I’m in high school
4=it might impact me only when I’m grown 5=it has a strong impact on my life now
1 2 3 4 5 Understanding how to read, understand and follow technical directions.
1 2 3 4 5 Knowing how to do simple calculations in my head—without a calculator.
1 2 3 4 5 Being prepared to speak another language or work in a foreign country.
1 2 3 4 5 Knowing when information is outdated.
1 2 3 4 5 Knowing when information is worthwhile vs. worthless.
1 2 3 4 5 Understanding probability and statistics: (understanding how to make predictions)
1 2 3 4 5 Other countries will create competition for technology jobs in America.
1 2 3 4 5 Knowing the legalities or laws of using technology safely and wisely.
May 4th, 2009 at 8:26 am
It is very important for students to speak a second language in today’s world. We have come a long way as a nation in the advancements of technology, but we are way behind when it come to preparing our students for the world marketplace. In other countries, students in the primary levels are taught to speak their native language plus a foreign language (usually English). It is extremely important that students learn a foreign language, as early as possible. Speaking more than one language helps with cognitive development, and can help increase a student’s SAT scores. Second, students will have a better understanding of people and other cultures. Third, many businesses are looking for bilingual employees, so this will give them an edge in the corporate world in the future. By not learning a second language, we limit the expanse of our knowledge. Students miss the experience of the variety of people. It restricts their learning skills. Moreover, learning a second language can be fun. This nation is doing a disservice to our children by showing them that speaking a second language is a benefit not a hindrance. Foreign Language needs to be seen as a “core class”, and not just as an “elective class”. There are so many benefits and I can’t think of one negative.