Why Study a Foreign Language?

Why Study a Foreign Language?

Doesn’t (or shouldn’t) everyone know English?

“If you talk to a a man in a language he understands, that

goes to his head.If you talk to him in his language,

that goes to his heart.”

Nelson Mandela once said:

1. It’s a small world.

Globalization makes it Increasingly important to communicate with citizens of other countries

Internet, social media, etc bring the world to your doorstep

National economic and security goals require knowledge of other languages.

It’s a small world

Even those who know English well prefer to converse negotiate, do business in their native language.

21 of the top 25 industrialized countries begin the study of languages in grades K-5. Most U.S. students begin the study at age 14.

80% of students in Europe speak at least 2 languages. 14% of U.S. students consider themselves bilingual.

Research by Georgetown U and Bureau of Labor Statistics places a FL 10th on the list of most useful majors. (4/12)

It’s a small world

2. Expand your horizons

“When we have come into adulthood in the midst of a single cultural experience, it can be difficult to accept unfamiliar ideologies or conceive of changing our habits. Delving into the details of different cultures can help you understand that the human experience varies considerably …The unknown will become something to joyfully unearth rather than something to fear.” http://www.dailyom.com/articles/2/2011/31360.html

Expand Horizons

Studying another language opens your mind to new ways of doing things

It teaches and encourages respect of other people.

It can embolden you to try new adventures.

Expand your horizons

3. Exercise your brain.

Improves standardized test scores (verbal and math scores improve)

Increases knowledge of your own language.

Delays the onset of Alzheimer's Disease and provides coping skills because of greater mental flexibilty.

Exercise your brain

4. Access original versions

LiteratureMusicMoviesScholarly research

Access to original

5. Travel

“Americans who travel abroad for the first time are often shocked to discover that, despite all the progress that has been made in the last 30 years, many foreign people still speak in foreign languages.”

- Dave Barry, humor columnsit

Travel

Study abroad Read signs, menus Venture beyond typical tourist places Everyday problem solving Converse with local people 75% of world’s population do not

speak English.

Travel

“The world is rapidly becoming multilingual and Arabic and

Spanish are both key languages of the future.”

David Graddol, language researcher

Why Spanish?

Third most widely spoken language of the world (behind Mandarin Chinese and English)

500 million people worldwide Half of the Western Hemisphere 48.4 million people in the U.S. (2009-12.8%) U.S. is 5th largest Hispanic population Hispanics highest birthrates—projected to be

over 100 million by 2050. (30%)

Why Spanish?

Why Spanish?

Most studied FL in U.S. 52% of university students in Spanish; 13.!%

French 18 million are studying Spanish

Spanish is not difficult.

“Chinese requires learning tones. French is spelled funny. Arabic has a different alphabet. Spanish, on the other hand is spelled phonetically and many of the words are similar to English.”http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/04/reasons-learn-spanish_n_2070094.html#slide=1715748

Why Spanish?

Speak so others can’t understand you. Understand what foreigners are saying about

you Impress your friends Expand your dating pool Help a struggling newcomer Improve your job potential

Why Spanish?

So, what do you think?