Language Policy in the U.S.: Questions Addressing a Sea Change in Language in the U.S.

Autor/inn/en	Brecht, Richard D.; Rivers, William P.
Institution	National Foreign Language Center, Washington, DC.
Titel	Language Policy in the U.S.: Questions Addressing a Sea Change in Language in the U.S.
Quelle	In: NFLC Policy Issues, 2 (1999) 1, S.1-4 (6 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
Schlagwörter	Stellungnahme; Employment Qualifications; Federal Government; Graduation Requirements; International Trade; Language Enrollment; Language Proficiency; Military Personnel; Second Language Instruction; Second Language Learning; Second Language Programs; Second Languages; United States + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Employment qualification; Vocational qualification; Vocational qualifications; Berufliche Qualifikation; Bundesregierung; Abschlussordnung; Trade; International relations; Handel; Internationale Beziehungen; Language skill; Language skills; Sprachkompetenz; Fremdsprachenunterricht; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Second language; Zweitsprache; USA
Abstract	Language is important in the public life of the United States because of four factors: globalization; the global diffusion of democracy and self-determination; the wave of immigration to the United States from all corners of the world; and the unique role America plays as the sole military and economic superpower. These conditions make it necessary for the United States to maintain a constant capacity in a broad range of languages, as there is no way to know exactly when world events will generate a sudden demand for particular languages. This U.S. role means that more than 65 federal agencies and departments need foreign language speakers to fulfill their mandates; 40,000 American troops will remain stationed in more than 110 nations; and successful exporters need foreign language expertise in order to understand and penetrate foreign markets, an increasingly important segment of the U.S. economy. It is, therefore, important to consider these facts and to ask the right questions about U.S. foreign language requirements, such as the demands, needs, skills, costs, benefits, options, and implications. (KFT)
Anmerkungen	National Foreign Language Center at Johns Hopkins University, 1619 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-667-8100. For full text: http://www.nflc.org/publications/policy issues.asp.
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC