Minnesota New Visions: Languages for Life
 

NEWSLETTER FOR PARENTS

The following is an idea based on the brochure "A World of Languages" provided by the World Languages Learning Area Support Team, Minnesota Department of Children, Families and Learning. January 2002. This idea originated from discussion held during the Minnesota New Visions 2002 Conference held in July, 2002. The objective is to use the following ideas in a newsletter for the parents within your school district to promote and explain the study of world languages. It could be used with your school letterhead as a handout for orientation, registration, conferences or other special events held during the school year.

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD OF LANGUAGE LEARNING

The Benefits of Learning Another Language:

  1. Strengthens communication skills.
  2. Broadens career and life opportunities.
  3. Increases understanding of other people and cultures.
  4. Diverse learners in a classroom discover commonalities in _expression.
  5. Strengthens vocabulary, communication, listening and memory skills.
  6. Improves English language skills.
  7. Improves literary skills.
  8. Improves cognitive skills.
  9. Enhances understanding among cultures.
  10. Develops an awareness, appreciation and respect for speakers of another language.

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Enhanced Career Opportunities

  1. Business world recruits workers who can speak more than one language.
  2. Over one-third of corporations presently conduct business internationally.
  3. Minnesota exports globally to 185 foreign destinations.
  4. Exports support more than 1 out of 6 jobs in Minnesota manufacturing sectors.
  5. Minnesota's largest international markets in % of exports include Canada, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Singapore and South Korea.
  6. Demand for English.
  7. Demand for Communication and Cultural Awareness Skills.
  8. Proficiency in World Language is important for many different employment and career opportunities.

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Entrance and Exit Requirements at Colleges and Universities:

  1. Colleges and universities recognize academic, social and economic benefit of speaking another language.
  2. Recognize benefit of cultural awareness.
  3. Most colleges/universities of entrance/exit requirements-vary among institutions.
  4. Check with counseling department of high school and college admissions or language department where you apply for specific details.
  5. Many students receive college credit for high school language study.
  6. To satisfy college requirements, usually necessary to study 3-4 years of world language in high school.
  7. After 4 years of high school world language study, student typically placed in third semester of college world language class.
  8. Some institutions give credit for courses exempted due to high school study.
  9. Some institutions offer credit by exam or the purchase of exam credits translating to money and time saved.
  10. Some institutions offer credit for Advanced Placement test scores.

 

~ Submitted by Barbara Judd ~

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