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Proficiency Levels Needed to Be Globally Competitive for Work

Benefits of Multilingualism

From Northwestern University's Global Language Initiatives...

Benefits of Multilingualism

DID YOU KNOW THAT…

There are over 7,000 languages spoken in the world today.

Speaking more than one language increases your cognitive abilities such as problem-solving, creativity, and memory.

One third of all the corporations in the U.S. are either owned or based abroad. Knowing a second language broadens employment opportunities.

Who is proficient in at least 2 languages? 56% of Europeans, 35% of Canadians, 66% of the world’s population, and only 17% of Americans.

THE BENEFITS OF LANGUAGE STUDY:
Debate, Careers, National Security, Cognitive Advantages, Interesting Facts

Ready, Set, Debate!

In a provocative article, Larry Summers, former President of Harvard University and former Secretary of the Treasury, argues that globalization makes it less clear that the substantial investment necessary to speak a foreign tongue is universally worthwhile. (The New York Times)

In his response, Larry Summers is Wrong About Languages, Michael E. Geisler, Vice President for language schools, schools abroad, and graduate programs at Middlebury College, argues that linguistic isolationism hurts Americans, particularly as new poles of economic growth emerge around the world and the relative power of the United States declines. (Inside Higher Ed)

This discussion continues….Room for Debate (The New York Times)

The Modern Language Association (MLA) published an important report on Foreign Languages in Higher Education: Foreign Languages and Higher Education: New Structures for a Changed World that identified the need for transcultural and translingual competence.

Your Career

Make Yourself a Global Asset: learn another language. (Harvard Business Review video)

Companies need to pay attention to a multilingual web. (BBC business news)

Foreign Language Skills Provide Sharp Edge in the Job Market. (International Business Review)

A glance into the different professions that need more language speakers. (Boston Globe)

“By the time health care reform is fully implemented, in 2014, 44 million new subscribers will be added to the health insurance rolls.” It’s evident that there is an urgent need for health care workers who can communicate with and intercede for “Limited English Proficiency consumers who speak upwards of 200 languages.” (DiversityEmployers.com)

National Security

Charles Kolb, President of the Committee for Economic Development (CED) and former White House Member, argues that America needs a far more geoliterate population in the 21st century. (Huffington Post)

The National Security Education program seeks to change America’s monolingual culture by awarding more than 4,200 scholarships and fellowships to U.S. citizens to study critical languages and cultures. (US Defense.gov)

Dr. Wayne E. Wright, a Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, argues that federal education policy is not meeting the national need for bilingual citizens. (Speaking in Tongues)

Cognitive Advantages

Being bilingual, it turns out, makes you smarter, says a writer from Science Magazine. It can have a profound effect on your brain, improving cognitive skills not related to language. (The New York Times)

A series of experiments found that thinking in a second language reduced deep-seated, misleading biases that unduly influence how risks and benefits are perceived. (Wired Magazine)

Interesting and Random

A State Department staffer gives his tips on becoming fluent fast. (Washington Post ExpressNightOut)

Northwestern guys talk about study abroad, and why men are underrepresented. (The Chronicle)

This graphic shows the top study abroad destinations, along with some key reasons. (OnlineUniversities Blog)

An Air Force Pilot tells the benefits of learning a foreign language based on his experience using Arabic. (ForeignPolicy.com)

Britain’s “Most Multilingual Student” talks about his passion for languages and how he learned so many.  (BBC video)

In her talk, longtime English teacher Patricia Ryan asks a provocative question: Is the world’s focus on English preventing the spread of great ideas in other languages? (TED: Ideas Worth Spreading) 

NU FACULTY RESEARCH ON MULTILINGUALISM

“Bilingualism serves as enrichment for the brain and has real consequences when it comes to executive function, specifically attention and working memory.” Northwestern Professors Viorica Marian and Nina Kraus find that bilingualism enhances attention. (Northwestern.edu)

William W. Maddux, , Hajo Adam and Adam D. Galinsky. 2010. When in Rome, learn why the Romans do what they do: How multicultural learning experiences facilitate creativity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. 36: 731-741. ( Download )

Eva Lam and Enid Rosario-Ramos (2009). Multilingual Literacies in Transnational Digitally-Mediated Contexts: An Exploratory Study of Immigrant Teens in the U.S.. Language and Education, 23(2): 171-190. ( Download )

Bilingual Brains are Better!

 

Article: Learning a Language Increases Brain Size

On September 4th, the Guardian posted a story about a recent study conducted by Swedish scientists. Using MRI brain scans, scientists discovered that learning a foreign language has a visable effect on your brain..."Learning a foreign language can increase the size of your brain." Click on the link to read the entire article: What Happens in the Brain when You Learn a Language?

 

Benefits of Learning a Language

An interesting article on language learning recently appeared on the Daily News-Miner website. Some hgihlights from the article include the following:

• Fewer than 18% of Americans report that they they speak a language other than English, complared to 53% of Europeans who report that they speak more than one language.
• The Foreign Service estimates that 600 - 2200 hours of class time are required to learn a language.
• Individuals who speak two or more languages are more productive AND earn more money!
• Studies have shown that students who study a foreign language outperform their counterparts in the classroom and on tests.

About 350 million people in the world speak English as their first language; however, more than 950 million speak Mandarin, 400 million speak Spanish and 300 million speak Hindi. "It may be time for Americans to consider the importance of learning the language and cultures of others as well."

Adapted from "Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language" (March 30, 2014).

How Language Seems to Shape Our View of the World

Alan Yu's article examines recent research into language. It appears that learning another language impacts our behaviour, how we see things and even our memory. Check out the article at the NPR site.

Monolingual v. Bilingual

Monolingual VS Bilingual infographic

The Benefits of Bilingualism

Why are bilinguals smarter? A 2012 New York Times article takes a look at the recent research that explores the impact of bilingualism on the brain. As it turns out, bilingual experiences affect the brain from infancy to old age. Click on the link and read the article!

The Value of Being Bilingual

Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.