Study a language, discover a world | ajc.com

Atlanta Journal-Constitution 9:32 a.m. Monday, February 28, 2011 By Clarissa Adams Fletcher

To remain competitive in this century this country must focus on creating a globally competent work force.

Exactly what does that mean? It means people who are open to and aware of a myriad of cultures. This also includes the study of at least one language in addition to English.

The United States has had a love-hate relationship with the study of languages. It is time that we seriously address this issue. Leon Panetta, the director of CIA, has called the lack of competence in other languages a national security issue.

Legislators, educators and concerned citizens now speak of global competence and 21st century skills.

If ...(we want to be) serious about educating (our) youth for the 21st century, then we must heed the words of U.S. Sen. J. William Fulbright, who, 50 years ago, stated, “Our linguistic and cultural myopia is losing us friends, business and respect in the world.”

This sentiment was proclaimed as America faced a crisis in education and national security. The United States prepared to take on the challenge of the Russians and Sputnik.

A half century later, the country finds itself in a similar position. President Barack Obama said in his State of the Union Address that this is our Sputnik moment. He referred to the crisis that faces education today.

(It is important to) emphasize the importance of language study in the United States in order to create a globally competent work force. The economy ... has begun to improve albeit slowly, and in order to attract international business... we must create an educational system that produces a work force ready and able to face the challenges of this century. While students should be encouraged to study science, technology and mathematics, the STEM subjects, they must be able to communicate with the same mathematicians and scientists around the world.

It is a myth that students cannot become proficient in a language through study in the k-12 school system....Of course, to become proficient in a language, students must have access to sequenced levels of language learning. Learning languages should be available to all children, and it should begin as early as possible. While many students may never study, live or work abroad, the need for people who can communicate in languages other than English continues to grow. ...To remain competitive, we must have students who are able to interact in a variety of situations.

We must focus on 21st century skills, and that includes language study.

Students who can communicate effectively, collaborate, think critically, be creative and innovative, and have an open and disposition toward cultural differences will become the backbone of our society.

As students enter into any new language, they enter into a new mind-set where they will begin to compare cultures and customs. The earlier students begin their study of languages, the more benefits acquired — including proficiency in the language, higher cognitive skills.

Additionally, research shows that students who continue an extended language sequence for more than one or two years tend to score higher on standardized tests.

As a student learns to communicate in a new language, the student creates connections between disciplines studied and acquires an appreciation of his or her own culture as well as the new culture associated with the new language. Languages are just fun.

You can enter into places that are only open to those who speak the language.

The skills developed through the acquisition of a second language are unique. They help create the globally competent citizens who are flexible, able to learn and relearn, apply new skills and communicate with a broad spectrum of people.

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign languages designated this month as “Discover Languages ... Discover the World” month.

If you have the opportunity to enroll your student in language early, please take advantage of the opportunity. If your child’s school is trying to decide to keep or initiate language study, encourage them as they will see tangible benefits in all areas of study will be seen.

If you are interested in the research supporting second language learning, I encourage you to go to the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages at www.actfl.org and review the research.

Let’s move beyond talking about 21st century students and global competence, and begin the process of educating our children to be competitive in the world. 


Clarissa Adams Fletcher, world languages department chair at Dunwoody High School, was named 2011 American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages National Language Teacher of the Year. She also teaches with the Georgia Virtual School and earned her National Board Certification in Spanish in 2004.