Foreign Language Learning

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the history of foreign language instruction in the United States and shows how despite the wide range of positive outcomes associated with foreign language instruction, there has been a profound lack of interest from the academic community at the college level until fairly recently in the nation's history. The paper then relates that today, more college students are recognizing the value that accrues to foreign language acquisition, but the U.S. continues to place far less emphasis on these initiatives than many other countries around the world. The paper stresses how in an increasingly multicultural society and globalized marketplace, fluency in other languages can provide some clear economic and cross-cultural benefits for Americans.

Outline:
History of Foreign Language Instruction and Enrollments in Institutions of Higher Education in the United States
Positive Outcomes Associated with Foreign Language Acquisition at the College Level
Globalization of American Society and Potential Beneficial Outcomes

From the Paper:

"The history of foreign language instruction in the United States predates the establishment of the republic (Nunberg, 1997), but foreign language instruction was not a major focus of formal attention from the academic community until the 19th century (Osborn, 2002). The need for a common language throughout the country, though, particularly one which was established by the dominant language group (i.e., English) to help build a new nation would have some profound influences on foreign language instruction in the years to come. For instance, Osborn (2002) reports that by 1900, foreign language instruction in both public and private schools was viewed with increasing suspicion because these courses were felt to encourage divisiveness during a particularly formative period in American history."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Abrams, P. (2003). The little red schoolhouse: Pierce, state monopoly of education and the politics of intolerance. Constitutional Commentary, 20(1), 61.
• Byram, M. (2001). Routledge encyclopedia of language teaching and learning. London: Routledge.
• Christian, D., Pufahl, I., & Rhodes, N. C. (2005). Fostering foreign language proficiency: What the U.S. can learn from other countries. Phi Delta Kappan, 87(3), 226.
• Hong, Z. (2007). India and China: Rivals or partners in Southeast Asia? Contemporary Southeast Asia, 29(1), 121-122.
• Kyvig, D. E. (2002). Daily life in the United States, 1920-1939: Decades of promise and pain. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.

More papers on Foreign Language Learning:

• Essay # 47186 : "Foreign Language Learning Strategies"
• Research Proposal # 108377 : "Foreign Language Education"
• Essay # 54997 : "Foreign Language Education"

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