I read a blog post the other day which was in essence complaining about the state of bilingual education that currently exists in the United States. The article suggested that bilingual education is going from bad to worse. For example, many school districts are dropping their foreign language programs altogether. The argument was that a loss of these programs is leading to a monolingual society.
Well, this is probably the case, but I don’t think the problem is as grave as this author wanted his readers to believe.
I do agree that our foreign language education still has a long way to go, but when compared to other countries, I would say that we’re about in the same situation.
In the travels I have made to other countries around the world, I have noticed that foreign language education is not much than it is here. One of the biggest faults of this instruction in other countries is that it is mostly limited to English instruction. At least here in the United States there is usually a choice of foreign languages to choose from. In my high school, for example, we could choose Spanish, German, French, or even Chinese. I have never seen that kind of choice in schools in other countries. Students are forced (or at least strongly encouraged) to study English.
One of the positive aspects of foreign language education in other countries is that they usually include more than one or two years of study. However, even after that, most students’ language skills in English are probably on par with foreign language skills of students here after a couple of years studying.
The one exception to this are many of the countries in Europe. But I believe that the main reason that foreign language education in Europe is fairly good is because non- native languages aren’t necessarily foreign. Each surrounding country speaks a different language, and that close proximity helps develop the foreign language skills of the people.
So the next time someone you know starts complaining about the state of affairs in foreign language education in the United States, remember that while it can always be better, it’s not as bad as it could be.
By: Clint Tustison
Posts Tagged ‘People’
Is Bilingual Education in the United States As Bad As They Say it Is?
March 29th, 2010Why Should We Continue Education?
March 18th, 2010
Education is one the important thing that people should have in their life. But unfortunately not all the people can finish their education while there are attend the schools or college. But in this time most of the people with a good education are very lucky in their life because they can have a better life than others. Here is some reason why we should continue for education.
1. There are lots of people who have not been able to finish their degree or graduation. This is the first reason why some of people want to continue their education. They are a lot of problem that not allowed them to finish their education. Maybe while there are in the schools or college they can not continue their education because they have not enough money to finish their education, etc.
2. It enriches your standard of living. By a good education we can have a big chance to get a good job with a good salary. Or we can work in a comfort environment job and avoid a stress.
3. It ensures people to compete with others in a better way in this competitive society. Most people with a good education have a better attitude while there are competed each other. Their will use their knowledge and skill to reach their dream and still focus to their target.
4. Continuing education helps you get a better qualification. It’s make you become a professional in your job. Why? Because you has learn and enriches your skill by continue your education. The more specific the subject you learn, you become most qualified in that subject than others.
By: Rahmat Dermawan Gulo
Effective Sat And Gmat Test Preparation
March 8th, 2010
