More information technology and oral activities have made their way into language classrooms over the last decades.
In our third and final post about the results of a major research study by The Center for Applied Linguistics, we will take a look at changes in how foreign languages are taught in the USA.
First, the use of Internet has increased access to foreign language materials. Teachers and students can now easily use authentic documents such as news articles, podcasts, and videos.
Another positive development is more frequent use of the target language. The number of teachers using the target language at least 75% of the time has doubled over the last two decades. In 1987, only 18% of language teaching was carried out in the foreign language; in 2008 the figure was 36%. There is clearly progress to be made, though, as many experts recommend speaking the target language in class all or the majority of the time.
Despite this progress, the study summary concludes on a critical note: “There continues to be reason for serious concern about the limited number of long‐sequence K–12 language programs designed to provide students with the linguistic and cultural skills needed to communicate effectively in the United States and abroad,” explain the authors. “In addition, the gap has widened between the haves and the have‐nots.”
In today’s business world, foreign languages are necessary to open up to new markets, which is why many companies work with qualified language service providers such as Language Translation, Inc.. Don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your language translation or interpreting needs.
Betty Carlson
See Also
- Language Translation, Inc.
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