Discover Languages…Discover the World

 

Discover the richness of language and the various cultures embodied in each language.

Discover the world of opportunities that are available to those who speak languages other than English.

Discover the benefits of multilingualism.

Academic and cognitive benefits

 

  • Children who have studied languages tend to demonstrate greater cognitive development, creativity and divergent thinking than monolingual children.
  • People who are competent in more than one language outscore those who are speakers of only one language on tests of verbal and nonverbal intelligence.
  • Students whoa are learning another language show greater creativity at solving complex problems than their monolingual peers.
  • Students who have the opportunity to study languages in elementary school surpass the national averages in reading, writing and mathematics regardless of race, gender, or socio-economic status.
  • The longer students study languages other than English, the higher their standardized test scores in those subjects.
  • During the past several years, data from the Admissions Testing Program of the College Board definitely show a positive correlation between SAT scores and the study of foreign languages. In the “Profile of SAT and Achievement Test Takers’, the College Entrance Examination Board reported that students who averaged 4 or more years of foreign language study scored higher on the verbal section of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) than those who had studied 4 or more years in any other subject area.
  • While the results were the most impressive for the verbal scores, students who study foreign languages also outscored their non-language peers in the math, physical sciences and social studies sections of the SAT exam. This data has been consistent with each group of test takers since 1984.

Enhanced job prospects

 

·         According to statistics released in 2004, 1 out of every 6 jobs created in the world is an international job.

·         Four out of five new jobs in the United States are created as a result of foreign trade.

·         Each year, nearly 200,000 Americans lose out on jobs with business because they do not know another language.

·         In February 2007, Monster.com listed more than 1000 jobs nationwide for those who speak French – not including military, government, or teaching jobs. Of those jobs, nearly 200 were in California.

·         People who can communicate in other languages are an asset to their employers because they can enhance relationships with the employer’s international partners and suppliers and encourage business with customers whose first language is not English. In addition, multilingual employees have access to media and advertising in the countries where the company does business.

·         In 1996, the American Association of School Administrators identified knowledge of foreign languages as one of the most important skills that students will need to develop in order to prosper in this century.

 

Brought to you by the California Language Teachers’ Association – http://www.clta.net

http://www.discoverlanguages.org