View Content #3970
| Contentid | 3970 |
|---|---|
| Content Type | 1 |
| Title | New Report: Attaining High Levels of Proficiency |
| Body | From http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/attain.html Attaining High Levels of Proficiency: Challenges for Foreign Language Education in the United States Margaret E. Malone, Center for Applied Linguistics Benjamin Rifkin, Temple University Donna Christian and Dora E. Johnson, Center for Applied Linguistics Introduction The need for individuals who can speak and understand languages other than English is acute in many sectors in the United States, from business and social services to national security and diplomacy. The September 26, 2001, report of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (H.R. Rep. No. 107-219, 2001) identified language as the single greatest need in the intelligence community. The late Senator Paul Simon (2001) pointed out that some 80 federal agencies need proficiency in nearly 100 foreign languages. While the demand is great, the supply remains almost nonexistent. Only 8% of American college students study another language. Of the relatively small number of individuals in the United States who learn languages other than English, an even smaller number achieve a high level of proficiency in the language(s) they study. Developing a cadre of professionals with high levels of proficiency in both English and another language will require significantly greater resources than are currently allocated to language education and training, particularly in higher education. This digest investigates the availability and adequacy of teaching methods and tools, information technologies, and testing procedures to help language learners achieve high levels of proficiency, and suggests ways to help develop highly proficient speakers of languages other than English in the United States. Read the full digest online or download a printable copy (PDF format) at http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/attain.html . |
| Source | CAL |
| Inputdate | 2005-12-27 19:51:00 |
| Lastmodifieddate | 2005-12-27 19:51:00 |
| Expdate | Not set |
| Publishdate | 2006-01-02 00:00:00 |
| Displaydate | Not set |
| Active | 1 |
| Emailed | 1 |
| Isarchived | 1 |
