Where I See the Issue in the Future

With the recent decline in the percentage of foreign language programs in the elementary education setting in the past decade, I see it declining more for the next few years. However, I think that the nation will finally recognize the globalization of our nation as a whole and then gradually start progressing towards a more unified world. It may take some drastic events, such as war, though for our nation to heed the call of the need for more bilingual or multilingual speakers. Every year, the expansion of foreign business relations is creating an even greater need for bilingual speakers. With this need, I believe that people will start teaching their children foreign languages at an early age, so that they are better equipped for the future. Most jobs in the future will probably require the skills of speaking multiple languages. The need will also grow with more foreign people immigrating to the US. This will cause a need for a way to communicate with these people.  

More Ways to Get Your Children Interested in Different Languages/Cultures

 Animes - animes are Japanese cartoons (some of which are adapted from mangas). Animes can vary in genre types just like American cartoons. Did you know that your child may already be watching an anime? Like Dragon Ball Z, Pokemon, Sailor Moon, Digimon, Yu-gi-oh, Inuyasha, etc. These animes have been English dubbed, though so that they can be aired on our networks. Just have your children watch the English subbed versions so that they will be hearing the characters speak in Japanese and they will have to read English subtitles. Many animes that you can buy at your local stores have both the subbed and dubbed versions on the DVDs.  
Mangas - Mangas are Japanese comics. Mangas are typically the length of a graphic novel and not the length of your ordinary comics from the Sunday newspaper. Although, they will be in English, the manga will be a nice introduction to Japanese culture. Fun Fact about mangas: They're read backwards from our traditional books. Manga/Anime characters are even a lot of fun to draw. 
 
Music - whether you allow your child to listen to the traditional or modern music of the culture, it'll still be an amazing experience. For instance, lately, I've found myself on a huge Korean and Japanese Pop music kick. Because I can't speak the language, I just look up the lyrics for the songs. This can also work for you and your children.
Restaurants - take your children to cultural restaurants. Let them experience their different foods. Just be aware of any food allergies so that you can make sure that none of the foods are made with the specific allergen. If you go to an Asian restaurant, eat with chopsticks. This is a fundamental in Asian cultures.
Other options: Art, Foreign Language Programs for kids, festivals, dances, Theater, etc.

Funding A Foreign Language Program

One of the biggest worries with a foreign language program is funding. Funding is one of the most monumental components of a successful foreign language program or any other funding. Without funding, a program is non-existent. There are multiple options out there for school programs, so don't worry. Here are a few of the examples:

• State/Federal funding - Go to you're local state government and ask about funding. Some grants though, such as the Foreign Language Assistance Program funds have been cut in a recent proposal made by the House of Representatives. (To fight this please, speak to your local Senate). So, be aware that some of these grants are no longer available.
• School Board Funding - Go to you're school districts Board of Education and ask about funding. 
• Local Businesses - some local businesses may be willing to sponsor/fund the foreign language program. This would probably be more likely with businesses that do business with foreign countries.
• Foreign Governments - some foreign governments fund schools for programs that are targeted in their language in the hopes of globalization and future prospects in foreign business relations. For example, the Chinese government has sent over teachers to teach Mandarin courses. The Chinese government helps pay for part of the teacher's salary as well as their living expenses.
• Fundraisers - hold fundraisers for the program. Make people aware of the issue as well as your purpose for having the program. You can hold fundraisers such as a festival that is dedicated to the foreign language that is chosen by the school district. The festival could be like those that you find in that country. So have fun with it. You could even have bake sales, car washes, candy sales, etc.

Foreign Language Programs Statistics

There have been numerous elementary school districts that have recognized the call for bilingual and multilingual people in today's globalizing nation. Some of the schools programs are total immersion classes (definition of which is in the previous blog). These schools may offer anywhere from one - three different foreign languages or more to their students. Here is some information on foreign language programs, such as statistics on the percent of foreign language programs in elementary schools in the U.S.

• In 2008, only 25% of the elementary schools in the U.S. offered any foreign language programs, whereas, in 1997, the percentage of foreign language programs in elementary schools was 31 percent. 
• Only half of all American high school students have even taken one year of a foreign language.
• Foreign language programs are less available in urban schools than in suburban or private schools.
• For the past 50 years, the foreign language choices available in schools have for the most part have been the same commonly taught European languages. 
• The learning of a foreign language is a higher priority in other countries, such as, Japan, South Korea, China, Africa, etc, than it is in the U.S. 
• It is said that twenty out of the twenty-five industrialized countries start teaching foreign languages in grades K-5.
• Twenty-one of thirty-one European Union countries require students to take nine years of foreign language study.
• If you look in the very first blog on my post (Mandarin as a second language?)  there will be information on various schools with Mandarin programs. These programs have sought out the need for Mandarin speakers due to the growing business relations with China.