The U.S. Foreign Language Deficit

The U.S. Foreign Language Deficit
Author: Kathleen Stein-Smith
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 126
Release: 2016-08-24
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 3319341596

This volume explores why Americans are among the least likely in the world to speak another language and how this U.S. foreign language deficit negatively impacts national and economic security, business and career prospects. Stein-Smith exposes how individuals are disadvantaged through their inability to effectively navigate the global workplace and multicultural communities, how their career options are limited by the foreign language deficit, and even how their ability to enjoy travel abroad and cultural pursuits is diminished. Through exploring the impact of the U.S. foreign language deficit, the author speaks to the stakeholders and partners in the campaign for foreign languages, offering guidance on what can and should be done to address it. She examines the next steps needed to develop specific career pathways that will meet the current and future needs of government, business, and industry, and empower foreign language learners through curriculum and career preparation.

Closing the Language Gap

Closing the Language Gap
Author: United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia
Publisher:
Total Pages: 172
Release: 2011
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN:

Handbook of Heritage, Community, and Native American Languages in the United States

Handbook of Heritage, Community, and Native American Languages in the United States
Author: Terrence G. Wiley
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 424
Release: 2014-01-03
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1136332499

Co-published by the Center for Applied Linguistics Timely and comprehensive, this state-of-the-art overview of major issues related to heritage, community, and Native American languages in the United States, based on the work of noted authorities, draws from a variety of perspectives—the speakers; use of the languages in the home, community, and wider society; patterns of acquisition, retention, loss, and revitalization of the languages; and specific education efforts devoted to developing stronger connections with and proficiency in them. Contributions on language use, programs and instruction, and policy focus on issues that are applicable to many heritage language contexts. Offering a foundational perspective for serious students of heritage, community, and Native American languages as they are learned in the classroom, transmitted across generations in families, and used in communities, the volume provides background on the history and current status of many languages in the linguistic mosaic of U.S. society and stresses the importance of drawing on these languages as societal, community, and individual resources, while also noting their strategic importance within the context of globalization.

Transforming Postsecondary Foreign Language Teaching in the United States

Transforming Postsecondary Foreign Language Teaching in the United States
Author: Janet Swaffar
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 225
Release: 2014-07-25
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9401791597

This volume addresses critical challenges and issues facing foreign language departments in colleges and universities across the U.S. It presents the insights of individuals who have built or are in the process of building foreign language curricula during a major transition period in postsecondary institutions. The authors of this volume come from various language departments and institutional experience from across the U. S., including private and public postsecondary foreign language teachers, researchers and administrators. The chapters address issues and provide templates for curricular change at all learning levels. The five sections of this book explore: Changing Perceptions about Foreign Language Learning; The Case for a Multi-literacy FL Curriculum in Concept and Assessment Praxis; Curricular Transformations: Historical Hurdles and Faculty Heuristics; Rethinking the Graduate Curriculum; Foreign Languages' Integration into the Interdisciplinary University. “This thought-provoking and timely volume addresses the question of how historic and current disciplinary, institutional and political conditions affect curricular transformation in collegiate foreign language programs. Responding to the issues raised in the 2007 MLA Report, this collection of nine essays presents a diversity of curricular models and approaches from different theoretical perspectives focusing on the integration of language and content. The book will undoubtedly be of great interest to a broad audience, such as foreign language educators, curriculum designers, administrators, graduate students and researchers.” Nelleke Van Deusen-Scholl, Yale College, CT, USA.

The Influence of the Foreign Service Institute on US Language Education

The Influence of the Foreign Service Institute on US Language Education
Author: Theresa Ulrich
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 189
Release: 2020-12-28
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1000330575

Through close analysis of primary source textual documents produced by the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) between 1947 and 1968, this unique text reveals the undocumented influence of the FSI on K-12 language instruction and assessment in the United States. By investigating the historical development of the FSI and its attitudes and practices around language learning and bilingualism, this text provides in-depth insight into the changing value of bilingualism in the US, and highlights how the FSI’s practices around language instruction and assessment continue to influence language instruction in American public schools. By mapping the development and integration of language proficiency assessments which strongly resemble those used by the FSI, historical analysis uncovers key political and economic motivations for increased promotion of language instruction in the US education system. Providing insights into issues of language instruction and assessment in public education that persist today, this book will be particularly useful to researchers and students interested in how policy formation has shaped language instruction and assessment in US public schools.

Post-Lingual Chinese Language Learning

Post-Lingual Chinese Language Learning
Author: Jinghe Han
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 140
Release: 2017-07-19
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1137598409

This book presents a thought-provoking challenge to mainstream theories of second language learning. Focusing on Chinese Hanzi, a self-sufficient meaning-making system that operates via visual shape and the logic built into its formation, it analyses ‘post-lingual’ pedagogy. The author examines this ‘language beyond language’ or linguistic theories, demonstrating that Hanzi is not made up simply of arbitrary signs but is the result of a complete conceptualisation process. In doing so, she creates a conceptual framework that builds on Hanzi’s humanistic spirit of language learning. This intriguing book will interest students and scholars of language education, and offers practical advice for those involved in teaching and learning Chinese as a foreign language.

Chinese Language Education in the United States

Chinese Language Education in the United States
Author: Jiening Ruan
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 265
Release: 2015-11-10
Genre: Education
ISBN: 3319213083

This book offers historical, philosophical, and sociocultural perspectives on Chinese language education for speakers of other languages with a special focus on Chinese language education in the United States. It provides a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary look at changes in CFL/CSL education over time in China and the U.S. and the philosophical, political and sociocultural influences that led to these changes. The essays address a wide array of topics related to Chinese language education, including: A historical overview of the field Theories that apply to CFL/CSL learning Policies and initiatives for CFL/CSL by the Chinese and U.S. governments Medium of instruction Curriculum and instruction for CFL/CSL learners at K-12 and college levels Technology for CFL/CSL education Chinese language learning for heritage learners CFL in study abroad contexts CFL teacher education and training This work is essential reading for scholars and students interested in gaining a greater understanding of Chinese language education in the two countries and around the world.