Abstract This paper takes a look at the negative consequences to Americans and American society suffered as a result of minimal foreign language skills. The paper compares the minimal emphasis that the American educational system places on learning a foreign language to the much stronger emphasis placed on learning a foreign language in virtually all other countries and then explains why the American educational system would be wise to implement better foreign language programs and promote the acquisition of a foreign language.
From the Paper "The world has about 6,000 different languages, give or take a few. Linguists predict that at least half of those may have disappeared by the year 2050, which means languages are becoming extinct at twice the rate of endangered animals and four times the rate of endangered birds. Predictions are that a dozen languages may dominate the world of the future at best. (Ostler, 2002) For Americans, that's probably a good thing, since we are seemingly genetically engineered to maintain an appalling ignorance of other languages, and have narrowed down the choices we offer our young people to approximately one, Spanish, viewed by many to be the easiest foreign language to learn. It has been described in various places as having an ?impoverished vocabulary,? which means less work for Dick and Jane. The American education system so far is doing nothing to reverse the endangered languages trend, and much to promote it. In fact, there has been a criminal drop-off in foreign language study in American high schools."
Abstract The paper relates that the continuance and historical understanding of the remaining approximate 200 tribal languages in Alaska is a significant cultural and educational concern for the American Indian and Alaska Native societies. The paper looks at the Yupik language in order to determine how to study and preserve it. The paper presents a research proposal to contrast and compare Yupik tales to other tales from the Native-Americans, the Anglo-Europeans, Africans and the Asians. This would allow an examination of the differences and similarities between cultures.
Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Research Proposal
From the Paper "Languages have subtle nuances that cannot be translated. They embody the philosophy of a people. This information is gone when its language disappears. Linguists now believe that half the languages spoken today will disappear within the next century. This is true for some Yupik Eskimo communities in Alaska, where just 20 years ago all of the children spoke Yupik. Now, the youngest speakers of Yupik in some of these communities are in their 20s, and the children speak only English (Robins; Alaskan Native Language Center)."
Abstract This paper looks at how different sections of society deal with testing and exams in school systems. The paper suggests that examinations that are supposedly culture-free adversely effect certain sections in the education system. Cultural differences, which are shown to effect test results, include language, belief, gender roles, and family.
Contents
Cultural Differences
Culture Free Tests
From the Paper "Research has confirmed that cultural differences do affect test responses, in a vast number of ways. Specific cultural factors have been identified as influential sources of cultural differences in tests, including language, prior experiences and test content. It has also been concluded that Culture Free Tests cannot be designed, as tests that are equivalent across all cultures are an unfeasible notion. To create tests that are non-discriminatory, that is, Culture Free, a separate test would have to be designed for each individual."
Tags: women, men, religion, belief, school, education, family, role
Abstract This paper discusses the effects of Hispanic culture on Southern California public education and ways a classroom teacher can accommodate language. It argues that although official bilingual programs are a thing of the past, educators must focus on this growing minority group.
From the Paper "According to the U S Bureau of the Census there are million persons of Hispanic or Spanish origin in the U S representing about ..."
Abstract This paper focuses on language as it defines cultural identity. The paper examines the lives of individuals that have experienced a cultural separation from society, discovering their personal and cultural identities through language. The paper then further discusses how school age children develop their attitudes about their lives and the world through the acceptance by society of their cultures and their languages of origin.
From the Paper "Language As a Definition of Cultural Identity Individuals that are born into specific cultures are taught through the practices of the culture how to relate to one another, what is acceptable in society, and what their roles are within the constraints of the cultural system. Just as children comprehend gender specifics from their interactions with parental figures from the time that they are born, culture becomes a significant part of the identity of the child because until socialization with the rest of the world begins with school enrollment, the child understands the world specifically through the culture that he or she is associated with. Language is a significant part of that cultural identity. Regardless of the language, each culture communicates with one another with variations of the proper spoken word, such as through slang, phrases, or abbreviated words."
Abstract This research proposal paper discusses the reasons why English language acquisition and acculturation may not be high priorities for foreign language speakers in the United States. The paper specifically aims to identify opportunities for improvement in foreign languageeducational services among foreign-born children enrolled in elementary (not including kindergarten) and secondary schools in the United States.
Table of Contents:
Statement of the Problem
Research Questions
Information on the Data
Data Analysis Statistical Design
Appendix
From the Paper "According to U.S. Census data from 2000, the total number of foreign-born children enrolled in elementary (not including kindergarten) and secondary schools in the United States was around two-and-a-half million (Ernst-Slavit, Moore & Maloney, 2002). When students that were born in the United States to foreign-born parents are included in this total, the figure actually increases to more than 12 million students. According to Ernst-Slavit and his colleagues (2002), "Although not all students from these figures would be ESL students, a significant portion of them are likely to be. These figures also suggest the imminent reality that all teachers, at some point during their careers, will have in their classrooms at least one student for whom English is a second language" (p. 116). Indeed, in many parts of the country such as Texas and New Mexico, a majority of the students may be ESL students (Waters, 2007). According to this author, "Few trends have changed the demographics of U.S. elementary and secondary schools as dramatically as the record-high immigration of the past dozen years. Students who are learning English for the first time, better known as English language learners, make up a greater proportion of the K-12 population than ever before" Waters, 2007, p. 34)."
Abstract This paper shows how cultural misunderstandings are often as a result of incorrect or incomplete translations. The writer explains that people are influenced by the culture in which they live and this helps form their impressions and the ways in which they communicate. Consequently, a metalanguage is required to enable people to discuss a specific language without their culture impacting upon it.
From the Paper "Cultural differences, which upon careful analysis may not be very great, are often exaggerated by the language barrier thus making it hard to conduct a comprehensive cultural analysis. If a person were to attempt to analyse another culture purely in terms of their own culture, this would clearly lead to misunderstanding and a breakdown in communication. This cultural divide is reinforced by the differing languages spoken in the varying cultures being compared. Whilst in a cultural analysis cultures may not be directly compared, the person conducting the analysis is still influenced by the culture to which they belong. As language forms a part of the activities which people undertake in their cultures, language is obviously going to have a large impact upon the cultural analysis being undertaken. By this, I am referring to the fact that if the person conducting the analysis merely translates lexemes from another language into his/her own language, the analysis will be incorrect as the cultural concepts underpinning the languages will be different. Thus it becomes necessary to be able to give definitions in a consistent fashion which does not rely upon any particular cultural concepts."
Abstract This paper is a comparison between ancient Egyptian culture and more modern cultures. Comparisons are made with respect to the arts, architecture, cultural tradition, agriculture, art, religion, language, and several other areas.
From the Paper "Ancient Egyptian religion, though it was quite different from that of modern religion, has proven to be quite influential on modern society. Dating back as far as the fifth millennia BC, the period which was characterized by the development of the calender. The calender was important to religion because it was based on the documentation of religious feasts.1 The calendar eventually evolved into its present form but it was the early Egyptian version that became the basis of documenting time. The Egyptians, much like other cultures, believed in the existence of higher beings(Gods of the earth, air, and heavens).2 Much like the Egyptians, most modern day religions are all based on the worship of a spiritual presence, giving reason to believe that the study of Egyptian religion is what has influenced the worship of other God's throughout history. Another point to make about the influence of Egyptian religion is that religion was the central part of their lives for the most part,3 much like the way it is for people of the church and monks today. Other aspects of ancient Egyptian religion that can be viewed as influential could be the fact that they worshipped in temples,4 comparable to the churches and temples of today. A final point of interest with respect to ancient Egyptian religion is that they Visutskie 3 actually dealt with the idea of death and resurrection thousands of years before the Christians did with Jesus Christ. Egyptians actually celebrated the feast of Easter with the death, burial, and disappearance of their King, Osiris, on a Friday, and to celebrate his resurrection three days later, on the Sunday. The Christian celebration of Easter is, in fact, an exact replica of the Egyptian Easter with respect to time, details, theme, and objective.5 Aside from religion, perhaps the most influential part of Egyptian culture on modern culture is that of the architecture."
Abstract This paper examines how companies have been experiencing a considerable dilemma in cultural values in the wake of a massive scale of amalgamations going on worldwide. It looks at how now they have to touch upon not only the customary cultural disparities of interaction at the company level, but also over much broader matters relating to culture and languages. It explores how the image of the place of work is undergoing transformation and how an increasing number of women, a higher incidence of racial minorities, and a greater number of migrants are becoming part of the total employee size.
From the Paper "A lot of verbal and nonverbal variations in interactions inherent to a culture exist, which might influence on the interference procedure with persons coming from divergent history of culture and languages. Every culture exemplifies its own conventions regarding accepted behavioral norms that have a bearing on the verbal and nonverbal interactions. Culture aids individuals with manner of imaginations, manner of envisioning, listening and understanding the universe. Therefore identical set of expressions can convey dissimilar substances to individuals from diverse cultures although they might be conversing in the same jargon. Whereas the diversity in languages, conversion into one's own language has to be resorted to for enabling communication, the chances of misinterpretations rise."
Abstract This paper analyzes the essay "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan in comparison to the work "If Black English isn't a Language, Then tell me, what is?" by James Baldwin. The paper first summarizes the two essays, and then compares their usage of examples and the tone of each author. The paper concludes that Amy Tan's work is more effective because of the success of these factors.
From the Paper "Amy Tan describes the effects of language as based upon personal experiences, while James Baldwin describes the linguistic heritage of his language upon the society and culture of African Americans. As thus, in some regards, they remain difficult to compare or contrast. However, Amy Tan's effectual use of specific examples and her tone throughout the piece contributes to making her piece, "Mother Tongue," clearer than "If Black English Isn't a Language, Then Tell Me, What is?" by James Baldwin. In "Mother Tongue," Amy Tan describes the effect of language--in all of its atmospheres--on her childhood and the early parts of her career. She conveys the multiple versions of English which she utilizes daily, from the 'simple' English she employs with her mother or Chinese family to the standard, grammatically wrought English of formal writing."
Abstract The writer of this paper details the manner in which various values and cultural traditions can impact an individual's or group's beliefs, attitudes and actions with respect to their day-to-day existence. The writer contends and explains how cultural differences affect communication, interaction and actions amongst different people. In an environment where little cultural diversity exists, it is likely that cultural differences will have little or no impact on human relations. This paper also discusses the issue of cultural differences in the workplace. Cultural diversity can lead to conflict as well as collaboration within the workplace, depending on whether or not people are willing to embrace people that are culturally different. This paper examines the impact of cultural diversity in the classroom, where teachers are being asked to become more culturally literate so that they can better address the needs of all their students, rather than the few who fall into one or two categories. This paper also explores the issue of students with varying cultural backgrounds that have different perceptions of learning and communicating and the manner in which their needs are met.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Analysis of Cultural Traditions and Human Relations
Conclusions
References
From the Paper "Cultural differences even impact students in the classroom. More and more teachers are being asked to become more culturally literate so that they can better address the needs of all their students, rather than the few who fall into one or two categories. Students with varying cultural backgrounds have different perceptions of learning and communicating, thus may have a difficult time achieving in a classroom that does not recognize their cultural differences and methods of learning. For students to be successful in a culturally diverse environment, teachers must work to improve communications and the methods they use to teach, to ensure that they are addressing the needs of a diverse population. To understand how cultural differences impact human relations one must also understand what culture is."
Abstract This paper discusses the issue of 'English Only' laws in America. The United States is a pluralistic society. It can be described as 'a melting pot' of languages and cultures. Language is a critical part of every culture and brings with it a strong sense of national linguistics, cultural identity, and individual perception. Language helps to tell who a person is, that person's values and beliefs. The paper contends that unity and disunity can be a result of the use of multiple and solitary languages. The paper explains that the welfare of the public can be greatly affected by language, as seen through the viewpoints of health care professionals and public educators presented in this paper.
Outline
Introduction
Linguistic Nationalism
Pluralistic Society
Language and Maintenance of Identity
Perception and the Role of Language Single/Multiple Languages - Unity or Disunity
Stakeholders
Viewpoints from Health Care Professionals
Viewpoints from Public Educators Conclusion
From the Paper "Throughout the history of the United States there have been multiple languages spoken by different cultures. A "melting pot" of cultures (including languages) is what the United States has been known for. This linguistic diversity continues into our present day culture. Language is a critical part of every culture and brings with it a strong sense of national linguistics. A society's identity and perception revolve around their language. Multiple or solitary languages can bring either unity or disunity depending on the situation. In every society, the welfare and needs of the public is strived to be taken care of. When there are multiple languages spoken in a pluralistic society, the lack of communication can be a barrier for the populations needs."
Abstract The purpose of this discussion is to analyze the impact of language, culture and community on education. The main focus of the paper is an analysis of the importance of a common language within the classroom. The paper begins with a discussion of the definition of language. The writer believes that as America continues to grow in diversity, the education system will have to deal with problems associated with language and cultural differences.
From the Paper "Language is one of the most important components of any society and allows individuals to communicate with one another. In the educational environment speaking a common language is essential to the learning process. When teachers and students speak and understand the same language the results can be dramatic. Students are able to learn more comprehensively and teachers are able to communicate more effectively with parents."
Tags: teacher, student, family, ethnic, speech, education, class
Abstract This paper addresses the issue of multiculturalism and its connection to teaching students for whom English is a second language. It examines two main schools of thought. One believes that although schools should recognize the diversity of cultures in our midst, the primary goal of education should be to teach all children to speak English fluently, as soon as possible, and to make sure they are solidly grounded in mainstream American culture. An alternate view is that instructional approaches should support the development of the primary language and understanding of the primary culture rather than acculturation to mainstream culture.
From the Paper "Over the past few decades, the United States has become a country of markedly more diverse subcultures than ever before. At the same time, educators have grown in their understanding and appreciation of the richness that diversity can bring to the educational environment. In spite of this, little research has gone into the effects of language instruction on the cultural development and understanding of students for whom English is a second language. The value of multicultural education is recognized at all levels of education in our country. Recognition of cultural differences as an enriching fact does exist in preschool. However, some educators concerned with the needs of "second culture" children believe that culture and language cannot be separated, and that cultural diversity that eliminates the child's primary language is inherently distorting (Phillips & Crowell, 1999a)."
