Challenges Faced in Prioritizing Foreign Language Education

Throughout Europe, foreign language education is emphasized early on in schools, with a high percentage of nations focusing on language learning. In contrast, the United States lags behind in prioritizing foreign language programs in K-12 education, influenced by cultural factors and a lack of awareness. Public Policy Analysts can play a crucial role in advocating for the integration of foreign languages into the US school curriculum through policy analysis and proposing solutions to address this disparity.

• Foreign Language Education
• Education Disparity
• Public Policy Analyst
• Language Learning
• School Curriculum

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1. Clase, Hay un problema muy grande .

2. Across Europe, students typically begin studying their first foreign language as a required school subject between the ages of 6 and 9. -Kat Devlin is a former research associate focusing on global attitudes at Pew Research Center

3. Of the 29 European nations for which data are available, 24 have a foreign language learning rate of at least 80%, with 15 of those reaching 90% or more . Meanwhile ..throughout all 50 states and the District of Columbia, [ONLY] 20% of K-12 students are enrolled in foreign language classes. -Kat Devlin is a former research associate focusing on global attitudes at Pew Research Center

4. Many Americans have a level of patriotism and country supremacy that is not found in other countries. This can lead to the idea that English is the supreme language, and thus the idea that learning another language is a waste of time. Becky Marcinko Managing Editor The Daily Collegian Penn State University

5. Why is foreign language NOT prioritized in US schools? By Hajrije Koci Rachel Carson High School hkoci@schools.nyc.gov

6. And what can be done about it? We can take charge and become a Public Policy Analyst.

7. What is a Public Policy Analyst? Policy analysts also called researchers, scholars, and fellows work to raise public awareness of social issues, such as HOW TO PRIORITIZE FOREIGN LANGUAGE IN SCHOOLS. And in the solutions they propose, these policy analysts hope to influence government action.

8. Steps to creating a PPA - Public Policy Analysis? 1. Define the Problem 2. Gather the Evidence 3. Identify the Causes 4. Evaluate the Existing Policy 5. Develop Solutions 6. Select the Best Solution

9. Why is foreign language NOT prioritized in schools? 1. Define the Problem The majority of public schools in the United States prioritize and commend learning in STEM fields, and treat foreign languages as nonessential electives. Becky Marcinko Managing Editor The Daily Collegian Penn State University

10. Why is foreign language NOT prioritized in schools? 2. Gather the Evidence Teacher and Student Observations Teacher and Student Surveys Pew Research Center Article Most European students are learning a foreign language in school while Americans lag https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/08/06/most-european-students-are-learning-a-foreign-language-in- school-while-americans-lag/ Penn State University Article Why foreign language classes should be taken more seriously in public schools. By Becky Macinko https://www.collegian.psu.edu/opinion/columnists/why-foreign-language-classes-should-be-taken-more-seriously-in- public-schools-column/article_f0521162-94a5-11ea-864a-83d2929d7524.html

11. Why is foreign language NOT prioritized in schools? 3. Identify the Causes VERY FEW OR NO REQUIREMENTS IN US (Only) Ten states and Washington D.C. have foreign language graduation requirements for high school students. VERY LOW PUBLIC OPINION In a 2016 Pew Research Center report on the state of American jobs, only 36% of Americans reported that knowing a foreign language was an extremely important trait for workers to be successful in today s economy, ranking it last out of eight skills for workers success.

12. Why is foreign language NOT prioritized in schools? 4. Evaluate the Existing Policy PRIORITIZATION OF K 12 WORLD LANGUAGE EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES STATE REQUIREMENTS FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION Foreign Language Annals, Winter 2016, volume 49, issue 4 This article examines high school graduation policies in all fifty states and the District of Columbia in order to assess the status of world language study in K 12 education. The article concludes that world language education is not prioritized in state-level policies, and it recommends initiatives at the federal level to improve the state of world language education in the United States.

13. Why is foreign language NOT prioritized in schools? 5. Develop Solutions 1. CHANGE OPINION (A) Try to convince students and parents the importance of learning a foreign language. 1. CHANGE OPINION (B) Try to convince school administration the importance of learning a foreign language. 1. CHANGE REQUIREMENTS (A) Speak to school boards and district representatives to increase awareness and MANDATE requirements for foreign language beginning in primary schools. 1. CHANGE REQUIREMENTS (B) Speak to politicians on the local AND state levels to increase awareness and MANDATE requirements for foreign language beginning in primary schools.

14. Why is foreign language NOT prioritized in schools? 6. Select the Best Solution FEASIBILITY HIGH MEDIUM LOW CHANGE REQUIREMENTS (A) CHANGE REQUIREMENTS (A) HIGH EFFECTIVENESS CHANGE OPINION (A) CHANGE OPINION (B) MEDIUM LOW

15. Watch any of these videos and share your thoughts: What do you think? Learning a Language Will Change your Life for Good | Christopher McCormick | TEDxPhnomPenh https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQX4mAaJBmE THE IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGE EDUCATION | Zachary Hinz | TEDxMountainViewHighSchool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upRcfAOw0fc&t=1s HOW TO LEARN LANGUAGES EFFECTIVELY | Maty Pilin | TEDxYouth@ECP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mls2m_oZT6U&t=34s How language shapes the way we think | Lera Boroditsky https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKK7wGAYP6k&t=128s

16. Why is foreign language NOT prioritized in schools? Works Cited Online Resources: National Foreign Language Center Journal Article Prioritization of K-12 World Language Education in the United States https://nflc.umd.edu/resources/prioritization-k-12-world-language-education-united-states Pew Research Center Article Most European students are learning a foreign language in school while Americans lag https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/08/06/most-european-students-are-learning-a-foreign-language-in-school-while-americans-lag/ Penn State University Article Why foreign language classes should be taken more seriously in public schools. https://www.collegian.psu.edu/opinion/columnists/why-foreign-language-classes-should-be-taken-more-seriously-in-public-schools-column/article_f0521162- 94a5-11ea-864a-83d2929d7524.html