View Content #6059
| Contentid | 6059 |
|---|---|
| Content Type | 1 |
| Title | Article: U.S. Needs Integrated Approach to Improve Foreign Language Skills and Cultural Expertise |
| Body | From http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11841 U.S. Needs Integrated Approach to Improve Foreign Language Skills and Cultural Expertise March 27, 2007 WASHINGTON -- The 14 U.S. Department of Education programs designed to strengthen education in foreign languages and in international and area studies -- known collectively as Title VI and Fulbright-Hays -- have made some progress but lack the resources necessary to keep pace with their mission, says a new report from the National Research Council. And the Education Department does not appear to have a master plan for these efforts, which may not bode well for the nation's security and competitiveness. More support from all levels of the U.S. education system is needed to develop an integrated approach to improving foreign language skills and expertise on other cultures, beginning in the primary grades, the report says. Also, the Department of Education should consolidate oversight of its foreign language and international education programs under a high-ranking official who would provide strategic direction and coordinate its work with related activities at other federal agencies. Universities should play key roles, partnering with federal officials to create systems to continuously improve the programs, the report says. "The nation's infrastructure for international and foreign language education is weak at a time when the United States faces unprecedented demands for globally aware citizens and professionals," said Janet L. Norwood, chair of the committee that wrote the report, a counselor and senior fellow at the Conference Board Inc., and former U.S. commissioner of labor statistics. Read the entire release at http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=11841 . |
| Source | The National Academies |
| Inputdate | 2007-04-15 10:03:59 |
| Lastmodifieddate | 2007-04-15 10:03:59 |
| Expdate | Not set |
| Publishdate | 2007-04-16 00:00:00 |
| Displaydate | Not set |
| Active | 1 |
| Emailed | 1 |
| Isarchived | 1 |
