November 15, 2013

Languages in the News

Lobbyists step up to be voice of foreign language proponents

For the first time, Washington, DC policymakers will encounter lobbyists for the language services industry who hope to encourage more emphasis on language skills within policy promoting STEM education. According to Bill Rivers and Hans Fenstermacher, language skills are an inherent part of new technologies and scientific progress. They cite the work of Google Translate, for example, as a company that needs workers skilled in both technical fields and foreign language ability. Fenstermacher leads a trade group that represents companies in the translation and localization industry, and Rivers heads the non-profit Joint National Committee on Languages and National Council for Languages and International Studies. Together, they hope to affect positive change in state and federal policies to increase funding for language education throughout the country.

Inclusion of Language in STEM

The Globalization and Localization Association, a trade group representing the language services industry, has issued an advocacy statement calling for the inclusion of language research and training within STEM educational policy. The authors contend that without skilled language specialists, information sharing and content development across STEM business sector would be impossible. Multilingual communication skills are an essential part of scientific and technical research and collaboration in today's global marketplace.

Why It Makes More Sense than You Know to Learn a Second Language

This article is about the benefits of being bilingual or multilingual. The author indicates that knowing additional languages has benefits such as improving communication skills, becoming a better listening, boosting creativity, improving the function of the executive control center, delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s and dementia, and making smarter decisions.

Tips and Tools

Websites

The Joint National Committee for Languages & the National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS)

The JNCL-NCLIS are professional organizations that represent the language profession in the United States. Their primary mission is to support opportunities for all Americans to learn English and at least one other language.

The JNCL-NCLIS website provides visitors with numerous articles, reports, position statements, videos, and other resources that feature their agendas, accomplishments, and advocacy materials. Stay current with language news and legislation by signing up for their email newsletter.

Languageguide.org

This website is touted as a "collaborative project to develop interactive, sound-integrated language learning resources." It offers pictorial vocabulary guides with recorded pronunciation in Mandarin, Italian, Dutch, Arabic, Turkish, French, Portuguese, Russian, Korean, Japanese, English (UK and other), and Spanish (Spain and Mexico). Within each category, place the cursor over an image or text to hear it pronounced. Some languages have a grammar and reading component.

Apps for iPads, iPods and iPhones

Ana Lomba's The Little Red Hen (free)

This app reads the story of The Little Red Hen in French, Spanish or Chinese with accompanying illustrations. Once the story begins, the app will remember where the story was stopped. Tap "listen" for the narrator to repeat a text. Touch "English" and the story will change to English.

Click here to see the French app in iTunes.
Click here to see the Spanish app in iTunes.
Click here to see the Chinese app in iTunes.

7 Petits Mots

7 Petits Mots is an app for teachers practicing their French. The daily puzzle is free and there are 7 jumbled words. The vocabulary is moderately challenging.

Click here to see the app in iTunes.
Click here to see the app in Google Play.

DuoLingo

This app allows users to learn English, French, Italian, Portuguese, or Spanish. Set up an account and start with the basics, then progress through the different lessons which include writing, dictation and some speaking.

Earn skill points for correct answers and lose hearts for incorrect ones. A loss of all hearts requires users to repeat the lesson. Work alone or compete with friends while progressing through the lessons.

Click here to see the app in iTunes.
Click here to see the app in Google Play.

This issue of Newsworthy was compiled by Tammy Dann. Send any comments, questions or information for future issues to her at tdann@nnell.org

Thank you to Heather Hendry, Zhihong Li, Shanon Shreffler, and Andrea Suarez for providing the links and to Alice Charkes and Amy Murphy for providing the apps used in this issue.

Thank you to Alice Charkes, Amy Murphy, Kennedy Schultz, Sally Hood and Zhihong Li for their work writing summaries.