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Why study language?

Here are some documents and statistics to get you started on your resource folder.

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Jump straight to correlation statements and research

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Phi-Delta-Kappa study finds that American public values language learning
Check out these figures from the 2007 Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll:

The following are tables that we thought may be of interest to the field. They were copied from the 39 th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll.

TABLE 37. Should students spend more time than they now do on learning about other nations of the world and the way people live there, or do you think they already spend enough time now? (In 1980, this question was asked of parents only.)

	National Totals		No Children in School		Public School Parents
	'07 %	'80 %	'07 %	'80 %	'07 %	'80 %
Spend more time	57	--	58	--	55	45
Spend enough time	40	--	39	--	44	46
Don't know	3	--	3	--	1	9

TABLE 38. How important do you believe it is for all children in the United States to learn a second language in addition to English? Is it very important, somewhat important, not very important, or not important at all?

	National Totals	No Children In School	Public School Parents
	'07 %	'07 %	'07 %
Very + somewhat important	85	85	85
Very important	48	48	47
Somewhat important	37	37	38
Not very important	9	9	9
Not important at all	6	6	6
Not very + not at all important	15	15	15
Don't know	*	*	*
*Less than one-half of 1%.

TABLE 39. In your opinion, should instruction in a second language, that is, in addition to English, begin in elementary school, middle school, or in high school?

	National Totals	No Children In School	Public School Parents
	'07 %	'07 %	'07 %
Elementary school	70	69	72
Middle school	18	18	18
High school	11	11	10
Don't know	1	2	*
*Less than one-half of 1%.

FINDING: It seems fair to say that the public understands the fact that we are living in an ever-smaller world, that language facility is important, and that children should learn a second language at an early age.

Correlation Statements and Research

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Research Page this page includes correlation statements organized in three categories:

How does language learning support academic achievement?
How does language learning provide cognitive benefits to students?
How does language learning affect attitudes and beliefs about language learning and about other cultures?

Bingualism delays onset of dementia

British study finds language education improves test scores (November, 2006)

Found in Translation (Sacramento Bee, November, 2006)

Rational for Language Study

Importance of Languages (Powerpoint)

Compelling Research on Benefits of Language Study

Issue Brief: Foreign Language Skills

Language Training and Skills

Is Bilingualism Valued in the U.S. Labor Market?

Learn a Foreign Language blog

Foreign Languages: An Essential Core Experience

Advocacy Resources for Specific Languages

Why study French

Why study German

Why study Spanish