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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.
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