the best? which language is
TRANSCRIPT
Which language is the best?
It all depends…..
Oyster Bay High School
● Options include Mandarin Chinese, French, Spanish or Heritage Spanish.
● You’ll study the same language for 2 to 6 years.
● You need one high school credit to graduate with a diploma in NYS.
● A test at the end of 8th grade gives you this credit.
● You must be able to speak, listen to, read, and write a short note in the new language.
● Most colleges like to see four years of language study on your transcript.
Who does well in language?
❖ Anyone who speaks one language can learn a new language!
❖ Students need to pay attention, listen, and be willing to make mistakes.
❖ Students must learn a new language. Heritage Spanish speakers can take an advanced Spanish class.
❖ Some students receive extra supports and might begin language study in eighth or ninth grade.
❖ Some students begin American Sign Language (ASL) in 9th grade.
Why learn Chinese?
➢ 20% of the world’s population speaks Chinese
➢ It is considered the second or third most important language needed in the job market.
➢ Most global problems of the future will not be solvable without China’s active participation and support.
➢ Eastern thinking and philosophy are very different from the U.S. and the ‘Western’ world.
➢ Many students enjoy the challenge of learning Chinese characters.
All About Chinese➢ There are many dialects of Chinese: Mandarin,
Cantonese, Hakka, Taiwanese…➢ The grammar is based on word order; it doesn’t have
verb conjugations, singular/plural, or gender-markers in words.
➢ Eastern culture is fascinating and very different from Western thinking. ￫ Asian cultures are collectivist; Western cultures
are more individualistic. ￫ Different customs in politeness, turn-taking,
social norms and values.
Simple grammar!I sing.Yesterday, I sang.Tomorrow, I will sing. I am singing.
I sing.I yesterday sing.I tomorrow sing.I currently sing.
You will learn to move word order around:
Yesterday, my brother went to Shanghai by plane.
Pinyin
➢ Pinyin: Created in the 1950’s
➢ Attempts to create alphabetized versions of Chinese words
➢ Is designed to help non-Chinese people understand Chinese pronunciation.
➢ Chinese children learn both pinyin and characters when they learn Mandarin.
➢ Chinese people learn Pinyin to type on computers and phones.
Chinese Characters
Practice Chinese Tones
All About French
Why learn French?➢ Forbes magazine reports that French may be the “most spoken
language in the world” by 2050 due to population shifts.
➢ French is already the #2 most useful language for business (Bloomberg)
➢ You’d be in demand! Because fewer Americans learn it, it’s considered a “scarce skill” in many major companies
➢ The only language officially spoken & taught on all major continents
➢ Official language of most internat’l organizations (FIFA, UN, NATO, etc.)
➢ French-speaking Quebec is just a car ride away to the north!
➢ Considered to be one of the most beautiful languages in the world.
Why Learn French?
Why learn Spanish?➢ Spanish is the second most-spoken language in the United States.
➢ Hispanics (people who speak Spanish) are the fastest-growing portion of the United States.
➢ Useful for nurses, doctors, teachers, police officers, fire fighters, or in travel, tourism, or working in a hotel, hospital, a bank, or large store
➢ The official language of 21 countries in Spain, South and Central Americas
➢ Amazing music, films, videos, and Latin dances
➢ You get to practice speaking Spanish with other students and people in the community right away!
Why Study Spanish?
➢ There are over 500 million Spanish speakers around the world!
➢ Spanish is the second most popular language in the United States behind English.
➢ Spanish uses an almost identical alphabet to English speakers.
Spanish Options
Spanish 1A➢ I don’t know any Spanish.➢ I know a few words.➢ I like the sound of Spanish.➢ My family speaks Spanish
but I do not and I’d like to learn to speak it.
Heritage Spanish➢ I understand when my family
speaks Spanish.➢ I can hold a conversation in
Spanish with a friend.➢ I already speak Spanish and
want to learn or practice reading and writing it.
Which language should you choose?
❖ Pick a language that…..➢ ...you like the sound of.
➢ ...you think would be interesting to speak.
➢ ...you may be able to use in the future.
➢ ...you may be able to speak with family members.
➢ ...is spoken in a region you would like to travel.
TimelineToday: ➢ Learn about the World Language program
➢ Listen closely to each language and practice pronouncing some new words
➢ Bring home the language selection information to your parents or guardian.
This weekend:
➢ Talk with your parents or guardian about which language you’d like to study.
➢ Fill out the form to choose your languages and music options.
➢ Put the form in your backpack to return to your teacher on Monday.
