What is the Year of Languages? Under the guidance and stewardship of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), 2005 will be celebrated as The Year of Languages in the United States. These celebrations will take place in a variety of settings, including elementary and secondary schools and postsecondary institutions as well as at events at the local, state and national levels across America. As the representatives of all aspects of foreign language education, ACTFL and its affiliated organizations are prepared to coordinate a cooperative effort to include all of the various organizations and agencies in the foreign language community. This is an opportunity to focus America's attention on the academic, social and economic benefits of studying other languages and cultures from around the world. This initiative will seek to positively influence the full range of language programs in U.S. schools and communities and the students these programs are designed to serve. The campaign plan will capture the attention and interest of all Americans with the involvement and assistance of teachers, administrators, state, local and federal legislators and government officials, businesses and, perhaps most important, parents. The goal of The Year of Languages (YOL) celebration is to advance the concept that every American should develop proficiency not only in English, but in other languages as well. To achieve this, YOL strategy will implement strategies designed to: Celebrate! Celebrate the increasing importance of language learning in American education and American life. Special community events, school programs and student activities will build public awareness of the diverse languages and cultures that enrich the American way of life. Our friends, neighbors, colleagues and employees come from a vast array of backgrounds, and knowing more about their heritages, cultures and literature will build stronger ties and increased understanding between us. Educate! Educate students, parents and the public in general about the benefits that students gain from studying and learning other languages. The ability to converse in and comprehend another language is only the beginning. The skills taught as part of language learning make a student's performance better overall: students enrolled in language programs perform better in other subjects than those who are not, and the College Board has found that secondary students with four or more years of language instruction score higher on the SAT! That's the kind of evidence that provides compelling reason to make language courses a part of a balanced core curriculum. Communicate! Communicate the importance of language programs in American education and society. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages will join with educators throughout the U.S. to make the 2005 school year a time of renewed awareness of the academic and cultural value of these programs. Government officials at the federal, state and local levels, school administrations, classroom teachers and ACTFL and its affiliate organizations will team to build greater public awareness of other languages and cultures. The Year of Languages will encourage everyone with a stake in the future of these programs to step up and speak up on behalf of language learning. For more information: www.yearoflanguages.org www.actfl.org 1-703-894-2900 Igluguq Dianne Schaeffer Eskimo Heritage Program Specialist KAWERAK INC. ** Ph.: (907)-443-4387 PO Box 948 ** Fax: (907)-443-4445 Nome, AK 99762 ** Email: ehp.spec@kawerak.org
What is the Year of Languages? Under the guidance and stewardship of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), 2005 will be celebrated as The Year of Languages in the United States. These celebrations will take place in a variety of settings, including elementary and secondary schools and postsecondary institutions as well as at events at the local, state and national levels across America. As the representatives of all aspects of foreign language education, ACTFL and its affiliated organizations are prepared to coordinate a cooperative effort to include all of the various organizations and agencies in the foreign language community. This is an opportunity to focus America's attention on the academic, social and economic benefits of studying other languages and cultures from around the world. This initiative will seek to positively influence the full range of language programs in U.S. schools and communities and the students these programs are designed to serve. The campaign plan will capture the attention and interest of all Americans with the involvement and assistance of teachers, administrators, state, local and federal legislators and government officials, businesses and, perhaps most important, parents. The goal of The Year of Languages (YOL) celebration is to advance the concept that every American should develop proficiency not only in English, but in other languages as well. To achieve this, YOL strategy will implement strategies designed to: Celebrate! Celebrate the increasing importance of language learning in American education and American life. Special community events, school programs and student activities will build public awareness of the diverse languages and cultures that enrich the American way of life. Our friends, neighbors, colleagues and employees come from a vast array of backgrounds, and knowing more about their heritages, cultures and literature will build stronger ties and increased understanding between us. Educate! Educate students, parents and the public in general about the benefits that students gain from studying and learning other languages. The ability to converse in and comprehend another language is only the beginning. The skills taught as part of language learning make a student's performance better overall: students enrolled in language programs perform better in other subjects than those who are not, and the College Board has found that secondary students with four or more years of language instruction score higher on the SAT! That's the kind of evidence that provides compelling reason to make language courses a part of a balanced core curriculum. Communicate! Communicate the importance of language programs in American education and society. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages will join with educators throughout the U.S. to make the 2005 school year a time of renewed awareness of the academic and cultural value of these programs. Government officials at the federal, state and local levels, school administrations, classroom teachers and ACTFL and its affiliate organizations will team to build greater public awareness of other languages and cultures. The Year of Languages will encourage everyone with a stake in the future of these programs to step up and speak up on behalf of language learning. For more information: www.yearoflanguages.org www.actfl.org 1-703-894-2900
1-703-894-2900