Why study languages?Christine Brown, Assistant Superintendent, Glastonbury Public Schools

“English is simply not enough. We cannot understand the world in English…

The ability to communicate in several languages is a great benefit for individuals, organizations and companies. It enhances creativity, breaks cultural stereotypes, encourages thinking “outside the box,” and can help develop innovative products and services. These are all qualities and activities that have real economic value.

Language and creativity are mental faculties which form part of the natural skills of human beings. In business, multicultural and multilingual teams are often created to solve problems, find innovative solutions and develop new goods and services. This approach is based on the idea that those who speak several languages have a broader perspective which

can lead to fresh and innovative approaches. Study on the Contribution of Multilingualism to Creativity, European Commission 16 July 2009

It’s a multilingual world…Did you know there are 6,912 known living languages in the world?

Test your knowledge, part 1…

It’s a multilingual world…How many people in the world speak these languages as their mother tongue?

French Arabic (all varieties)a) 64,850,000

b) 640,860,000c) 25,000,000

a) 150,000,000b) 206,000,000c) 1,156,000,000

a) 64,850,000b) 640,860,000c) 25,000,000

a) 150,000,000b) 206,000,000c) 1,156,000,000

It’s a multilingual world…How many people in the world speak these languages as their mother tongue?

English Chinese (Mandarin)a) 309,350,000b) 55,000,000 c) 187,000,000

a) 1,052,000,000b) 358,000,000c) 876,000,000

a) 309,350,000b) 55,000,000c) 187,000,000

a) 1,052,000,000b) 358,000,000c) 876,000,000

508,000,000 including second language speakers

1,052,000,000 including second language speakers

It’s a multilingual world…How many people in the world speak these languages as their mother tongue?

Spanish Hausaa) 102,000,000b) 61,700,000c) 322,300,000

a) 60,000b) 24,162,000c) 10,300,000

a) 102,000,000b) 61,700,000c) 322,300,000

a) 60,000b) 24,162,000c) 10,300,000

It’s a multilingual world…What do all of these languages have in common?

They are all spoken in more than one country and often used as additional languages to communicate across borders

It’s a multilingual world…Test your knowledge, part 2 - Languages of the European UnionMatch the language to the percentage of its native speakers in the EU

24%

16%16%

16%

11%11%6%

FrançaisDeutsch

EspañolEnglish

Italiano

NederlandsAll others

Deutsch

Français

Italiano

English

All othersEspañol

Nederlands

It’s a multilingual world…Test your knowledge, part 3 – Closer to homeDo you know how many languages are spoken by young people in

8? 19? 39? 49? 98? 104? 144? 251? 380?

United States…

Glastonbury…

380 languages

49 languages

It’s a multilingual world…Test your knowledge, part 3 – Closer to homeA recent survey shows that over 49 languages are spoken in Glastonbury schools:

Arabic • Albanian • Amharic • Armenian • Bassa • Bengali • Bulgarian • Burmese • Cantonese • Chinese • Dutch • Farsi • English • French • German • Greek • Gujerati • Guyanese Creole • Hebrew • Hindi • Hungarian • Italian • Japanese • Kannada • Konkani • Korean • Lao • Latvian • Lithuanian • Malayalam • Marathi • Nepali • Polish • Portuguese • Rumanian • Russian • Serbo-Croat • Spanish • Swedish • Tagalog • Tamil • Telugu • Thai • Tibetan • Twi/Fante • Ukrainian • Urdu • Vietnamese

English is not enough

Still need convincing?

Skills in Demand for Business: Over half of top executives say a rising level of skills needed to maintain a competitive edge is outpacing their workers. Skills they find most lacking in men and women:

Foreign Language: Men 31% Women 27%

Interpersonal: Men 14% Women 7%

Administrative: Men 31% Women 7%

Management: Men 8% Women 8%

Technical: Men 8% Women 15%

Problem Solving: Men 5% Women 6%

Source: USA Today, The WATS House

Employability: give yourself the edgeThis is what a top employer said he is looking for in a new employee:• social skills• ability to work in a team• communication skills • problem-solving skills• confidence• experience• open mindedness• flexibility

Learning languages gives you these skillsSpeaking another language makes you stand out from the crowd

Employability: give yourself the edgeThe top employer also said:• Business is global today• English is important but not enough• You need to get noticed overseas• Foreign languages are vital

He gave some tips on the social side of business:• Listening is a skill• Cultural awareness pays off• Relationships make a difference• Networking is easier in the local

language

Continuing with languages you can…Join in – it’s a multilingual worldConnect with other cultures

Give yourself the edge – you need to in the global job market of the 21st century

Keep your options open

Still need convincing?

National Standards:

Communication

Culture

Connections

Comparisons

Community

Why study languages?This is what Glastonbury students said:

“Foreign language classes have made me think about culture - how traditions carry through

generations and what it means to be part of a culture”

“Studying new languages has

taught me patience for the learning

process”

“Studying Latin has made it far easier for me to understand the way

grammar works and the patterns that develop in

other languages”

Why study languages?This is what Glastonbury students said:

“Studying foreign languages has helped me feel more confident around people of different

backgrounds and my exchange to Madrid broadened my world view and international

perspective”

“Throughout my learning of foreign languages, my skills in other areas such as reading, writing and social skills have

increased”

“Learning a foreign

language has helped me discover

my own language”

English is not enoughThe two countries noted the importance of people-to-people and cultural

exchanges in fostering closer U.S.-China bilateral relations and therefore agreed in principle to establish a new bilateral mechanism to facilitate these exchanges. The two sides are pleased to note the continued increase in the number of students studying in each other’s country in recent years. Nearly 100,000 Chinese are now studying in the United States, and the U.S. side will receive more Chinese students and facilitate visa issuance for them. The United States has approximately 20,000 students in China. The United States seeks to encourage more Americans to study in China by launching a new initiative to send 100,000 students to China over the coming four years. China welcomed this decision by the United States. The two sides agreed to expedite negotiations to renew in 2010 the Implementing Accord for Cultural Exchange for the Period Through 2010-2012 under the Cultural Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People’s Republic of China. The United States and China agreed to jointly hold the Second U.S.-China Cultural Forum in the United States at an appropriate time. New York Times November 18, 2009 Bilateral Agreement Signed by President Barack Obama in Beijing, China