Useful Foreign Languages - Which 'foreign' language would you choose?

[Laura M]

As with most US schools, ours seems to be behind in foreign language offerings (commonly known now as LOTE - Languages Other Than English). I guess there was some Politically incorrect connotation of 'foreign.'

At any rate, we have decided to 'experiment' next year with introductory level elective classes based on student interest - top 2 of the following: American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Italien, and German. Based on next years information, we may decide to start a 4 year program in one of the above.

We currently offer only Spanish and French - as do most schools in our area.

What do my colleagues think is a 'language of the future' for employment and business?

Edit: I've allowed for 'multiple choices' in poll.

 

[Jim Wynne]

What do my colleagues think is a 'language of the future' for employment and business?

I'm still waiting for most native-born Americans to learn English.

I think if "LOTEs" are to be taught, high school is too late. Foreign language instruction should begin in the primary grades.

 

[Laura M]

I think if "LOTEs" are to be taught, high school is too late. Foreign language instruction should begin in the primary grades.

Not sure I mentioned the grade level of our introductory classes, but yes, it is intended to be a HS elective. Those students will be polled on whether they would have preferred a 4 year offering - that would begin in 7th grade as Spanish and French do currently.

 

[Claes Gefvenberg]

At any rate, we have decided to 'experiment' next year with introductory level elective classes based on student interest - top 2 of the following: American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Italien, and German. Based on next years information, we may decide to start a 4 year program in one of the above.

You know... That sounds like a good course of action.

Many of the oldtimers here in the Cove know that I'm very interested in languages. In fact, I have but one regret as far as languages are concerned: That I haven't learned more of them... I can say without a shread of hesitation that I have reaped benefits from all foreign languages I have learned. English is the one I'm most proficient in, but my rudimentary knowledge of french and german has served me well too. I suppose what I'm saying is that any language skills help.

What do my colleagues think is a 'language of the future' for employment and business?

Considering the way business seem to be booming in Asia (and China in particular) Some chinese may come in handy. The question is just what kind of chinese? There seems to be different dialects or indeed different languages over the place. Maybe some of our Chinese members can put us straight?

Come to think of it... The way my hearing is going, I might as well go for sign language too...

/Claes

 

[ralphsulser]

I voted Japanese because of the increased of Japanese transplant facitilties opening in The USA. Also, I work for a Japanese company with facilities world wide. Being able to speak Japanese serves at least 2 purposes,
1) communication of terminology, particularly understanding the stated info.,
2) Political and teamwork..the people who speak Japanese have an advantage for being members of the management planning, plus more opportunity for promotion.
The typical interpreters we had are nice ladies, but have no technicial training and sometime a lot gets lost in the translation. You read what they have translated, and scratch your head and say "what..this makes no sense"
I think in the future there will be more Japanese facilities opening and the better prepared we are the more input will be meaningful.

PS-I do not speak any Japanese except a few basic words

 

[Craig H.]

I voted Chinese, but even though I remember little of my high school Spanish, I think the romance languages (French and Spanish) help English speakers because many of the latin roots are the same. BTW, they are called romance languages because they originated from around the old Roman Empire. Ain't I just a stick in the mud?

 

[Laura M]

I'd like to see the 'others' state which 'other' in the thread somewhere.

 

[Miner]

Considering the way business seem to be booming in Asia (and China in particular) Some chinese may come in handy. The question is just what kind of chinese? There seems to be different dialects or indeed different languages over the place. Maybe some of our Chinese members can put us straight?

China is rapidly booming and will likely be a long term player in manufacturing, but the dialect question must be answered. You also have the spoken language versus written pictograms issue. You have to learn both.

 

[Graeme]

en Español, por favor

And the the title above has exhausted about 20% of what I remember of the language.

In North America, I (and my wife) think Spanish is probably the most important second language for native American-speakers. Except for the USA, Canada, Brazil and about 2/3 of the Caribbean islands, it is the language spoken by everyone else in North and South America. Besides, it would help us converse with the gardeners, the painters, and a number of other tradespeople.

For international business in the next half-century, I would say that some form of Chinese is important, including the ability to read and write. Written Chinese can, I understand, be mostly understood by Koreans and Japanese as well. Other useful languages might be Russian, Korean, Japanese, and Arabic.

In the Atlanta area, after English and Spanish, any language from Asia, the Indian subcontinent or the Middle East would be useful. Pick one, and you will see at least one sign in that language within five miles, guaranteed.

If English is not your first language then it would be an excellent choice for your second -- and it may already be, since I heard recently that it is the most widely taught second language in the world. Consider - wherever CNN sends a reporter and camera, there is invariably someone there who speaks English!

I agree with JSW05 that high school is too late to start. I had 1 1/2 years of French starting at age 11, followed by 1/2 year of Spanish (we moved and I changed schools and a language was required but only Spanish was offered until the next grade!) I remember at least enough of them to read very basic material (maps, tourist brochures) and to ask if someone speaks English. Later in life I was exposed to Vietnamese, Japanese and Morse Code and the best I can do now is recognize what language each is.

Of course my usual crack is that I already have two languages: I spent my first decade speaking "real" English and then the family emigrated to the USA so I had to learn American.

Graeme

 

[Miner]

Of course my usual crack is that I already have two languages: I spent my first decade speaking "real" English and then the family emigrated to the USA so I had to learn American.

Graeme

So, you are probably familiar with the term "whilst"?