The document makes the case for teaching Mandarin Chinese in the Houston Independent School District. It summarizes research showing that starting world language education early (K-5) is common practice in most industrialized countries. Only a small number of US states require world language education, and even fewer require it at the elementary level. Studies also show that learning a second language improves academic performance in other subjects and helps close achievement gaps. Furthermore, foreign language ability is important for national interests like security, economic competitiveness, and an informed citizenry. As China is projected to be a major future trade partner, learning Mandarin could position Houston students and the city well economically.
3. 20 of the Top 24 Industrialized Countries Begin the Study of a World Language in Grades K-5 Sources: Pufahl, Rhodes, & Christian, 2002; Li, 2007; Goto Butler, 2007; Gargesh, 2006; Eurydice, 2005; Russia-InfoCenter, 2006; Dixon, 2003 Slide used with permission, courtesy Shuhan C. Wang, Ph.D., Deputy Director, National Foreign Language Center, University of Maryland Lower Elementary School Upper Elementary School Middle School High School Beginning Age 5-7 8-10 11-13 14 Grade K-2 3-5 6-8 9 Number of Countries 8 12 3 1* (US)
4. Only 12 US States Require the Study of World Languages Source: National World Language Education Survey: A State of the States Report in 2009 (Wang, Evans, & Liau, 2009) Slide used with permission, courtesy Shuhan C. Wang, Ph.D., Deputy Director, National Foreign Language Center, University of Maryland School Level Number of States Elementary 1 Middle School 1 High School Graduation 6 Elementary & Middle School 1 Elementary, M.S. and H.S. 3
5. Portion of World Population Using Two or More Languages Source: Crystal, 1997. Slide used with permission, courtesy Shuhan C. Wang, Ph.D., Deputy Director, National Foreign Language Center, University of Maryland
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10. Slide used with permission, courtesy Shuhan C. Wang, Ph.D., Deputy Director, National Foreign Language Center, University of Maryland
11. Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Graphic by the US-China Business Council, 2011 2 nd only to CA ($12B)
12. Future International Trade Leader (today a sidewalk writer) Slide used with permission, courtesy Shuhan C. Wang, Ph.D., Deputy Director, National Foreign Language Center, University of Maryland
13. They’re coming… Graphic from “Many Rich Chinese Consider Leaving” by Jeremy Page, Wall Street Journal, November 2, 2011 … will they come to Houston?
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Hinweis der Redaktion
These are approximations of US grades. Multiple sources: Pufahl, Ingrid, Rhodes, Nancy C., and Christian, Donna. 2002. Foreign Language Teaching: What the United States Can Learn From Other Countries . Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education. Li, Minglin. 2007. Foreign Language Education in Primary Schools in the People’s Republic of China. Current Issues in Language Planning , vol.8, no. 2, pp. 148-161. Goto Butler, Yuko. 2007. Foreign Language Education at Elementary Schools in Japan: Searching for Solutions Amidst Growing Diversification. Current Issues in Language Planning , vol.8, no.2, 2007.pp. 129 – 147. Gargesh, Ravinder. 2006. Language Issues in the Context of Higher Education in India . PowerPoint presentation given at the Language Issues in English Medium Universities Across Asia Symposium at University of Hong Kong, June, 2006. Available online, March 10, 2009: www.hku.hk/clear/doc/DAY%201/Ravinder%20Gargesh.PPT. Eurydice. 2005. Key Data on Teaching Languages at School in Europe . Eurydice: Brussels, Belgium. Russia-InfoCenter. 2006. General Education. Available online, March 11, 2009: http://www.russia-ic.com/education_science/education/system/103/ Dixon, L. Quentin. 2003. The Bilingual Education Policy in Singapore: Implications for Second Language Acquisition. Paper presented at the Annual International Symposium of Bilingualism, (Tempe Arizona, April 30-May3, 2003). Available online March 11, 2009: http://eric.ed.gov/ERICDocs/data/ericdocs2sql/content_storage_01/0000019b/80/1b/2d/e8.pdf
National Center for Education Statistics (2000). Enrollment in foreign language courses compared with enrollment in grades 9 through 12 in public secondary schools, fall 1948 through fall 2000. Digest of Educational Statistics , Table 53. Furman, Nelly, Goldberg, David and Lusin, Natalia (2007). Enrollment in foreign languages other than English in United States Institutions of Higher Education, Fall 2006. Modern Language Association , web publication 12, November 2007.