{Guest post by Language Lizard}
The Afghan immigrant population in the United States has grown faster over the last decade than many others. In fact, over 55,000 Afghan refugees arrived in 2021 alone and 44% of those refugees are children being housed temporarily at US military bases. With the focus on Afghanistan this year, we wanted to take a look at the languages that are spoken in the country, interesting facts, and bilingual resources for these new immigrants. [Read more…]
**guest post from author, Judy Martialay**
Foreign language skills will open doors for your child, regardless of his or her career choice.
Language is about life. Wherever there is communication with people who speak another language, in our country or abroad, knowing another language is an asset or is required. This is why languages are one of the top 8 skills required of all occupations. In many countries, students study the language along with their career preparation.
Native English speakers comprise 5% of the world’s population. Although millions speak or study English, the majority have limited skills, and many prefer to communicate in their language.
The old adage for business is “Buy in your language but sell in the buyer’s language.” Solid lasting business relations are based on trust, friendship, and cultural affinity.
Students of another language can develop appreciation and respect for other cultures, and develop skills to work with people from diverse backgrounds. The ability to communicate in the language of the customer plays a big role in establishing friendship and trust.
These are some of the benefits that proficiency in a second language has for your child and his or her career:
• In the competition for jobs, all things being equal, the candidate who is bilingual has the advantage.
• Bilinguals are needed to interact with employees and customers abroad and in our country.
• Bilinguals can discover and attract more potential customers or clients than monolinguals. They can access important information which is unavailable to monolingual English speakers.
• Employees who are proficient in another language can receive a bonus.
The military needs people who are competent in other languages. Every soldier accepted by the Green Berets must know a foreign language. These soldiers are sent to other countries to advise and train local troops. Armed services are just one of the many careers where knowing a language is either required or an asset: health, social services, police, corrections, journalism, foreign service, politics, sports, hospitality, engineering, sales, the arts, travel, and tourism.
Can you think of more? I just read in the newspaper that radio sports announcers need to know how to pronounce the baseball player’s names. There are many players from foreign countries, mostly Spanish-speaking.
Encourage your child to start and/or continue the study of a language along with his or her major subject. Where possible, he or she should strive to earn the Seal of Biliteracy which is awarded upon graduation in many states.
He or she will be able to put this on his or her resumé. This will not only set him or her apart from the crowd; it will also open the door to exciting opportunities.
Author Judy Martialay
“Children absorb languages like sponges.” Elementary school teacher
Visit: http://www.polyglotkidz.com
Bonjour! Let’s Learn French:
NABE Book Achievement Award Winner Winter 2018 Children’s Bilingual
Honorable Mention Cultural Diversity Purple Dragonfly Award 2018
order now on Amazon.com
kindle: https://amzn.to/2mersvn
B&N.com: https://goo.gl/W7y2dT
Bookbaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/Bonjour-Lets-Learn-French
¡HOLA! Let’s Learn Spanish
NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner Winter 2017 Children’s Bilingual
Readers’ Favorite Bronze Award Children’s Educational 2017
Honorable Mention Educational Purple Dragonfly Book Award 2017
Softcover printed
https://amzn.to/2mizrYw
Kindle:
https://amzn.to/2ujRTEs
B&N:
http://bit.ly/2eNNi6o
Bookbaby: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/¡hola-Lets-Learn-Spanish
Like me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJudyMartialay/
follow me on Twitter
Judy Martialay@judyruth10
Lead with languages
Proficiency in a second language has many advantages: access to millions more people around the world; career opportunities; cognitive benefits; appreciation and enjoyment of cultural diversity; greater mastery of English.
For your middle/teen-age child, language learning can help to develop those much needed social skills: openness to others, tolerance of differences, expression of opinions, and compassion.
It takes many years to become competent in another language: With all the distractions that middle and high school students have in their lives, how can you keep your child motivated to continue studying until he or she attains a level of proficiency to have a useful skill?
The best experience is total immersion in the other language and culture; a trip to a country where the language is spoken. Your child will have to speak the language! Also, he or she can help the family by interpreting. A trip to a country where the language is spoken is a great motivator. Summer camps where teens speak the language during their stay are a good alternative. The following are some easy ways to Encourage Middle-Schoolers to Love Foreign Languages.
Personal connection
Finding someone who speaks the language who is willing to have conversations with your child is a great motivation. You may have a friend, relative or neighbor who is a native speaker of that language. That person could be you! Having a native speaker who is the same age as your child is even more effective.
HINT: If this is impossible, find a pen pal in the country of that language. Your child can connect with the penpal in so many ways: via Skype, Twitter, Instagram.
Teens will make an extra effort if they are truly motivated. If your child has a special interest (sports, fashion, science, etc.), try to find a magazine or an app in the language that has an article about that subject. If you are visiting the country, arrange a visit with an event or person connected to that subject.
Social media and apps
Find bilingual sources for your child’s favorite movies, shows, comics and games. Youtube has entertaining shows written for high school language students.
There are sites and apps, such as Omegle, for talking to people with common interests, but these should be monitored by an adult. The Duolingo app is highly recommended, and it’s free. I think I’ll try it for Japanese. There are online forums featuring the country or language. Google translator can help your child expand his/her language skills.
Food
Find a restaurant where waiters speak the language. Your child can order for the family. Even without the language experience, food is a great motivator! Every culture has some recipes that will tempt your children. You can buy or prepare the meals together. Encourage your children to use the language while you’re preparing and enjoying the food.
Career possibilities
Since languages are about life, they can complement almost all career choices: hospitality; law; health; sports; music, art. Scientists increasingly collaborate with counterparts in other countries. There are many job opportunities for bilinguals. Lead with Languages.com lists job opportunities for people who have language skills.
Certificate of Biliteracy
This certificate is awarded at high school graduation. The seal appears on the diploma. 26 states currently award the seal, and more are considering adopting it. The seal is awarded for students who can pass a proficiency exam in English and another language. This seal will be valuable for college and job applications.
Judy has taught languages on Long Island and is an active member of the Public Advocacy Committee of the New York State Association of Foreign Langu
age Teachers. She lives on Long Island with her husband. Has two daughters and a granddaughter. Her missions is have let every child to have the opportunity to learn a world language at an early age; and she wants parents, everyone to have fun with a language and appreciate the beauty of the cultures of our world. Judy is the author of ¡HOLA! Let’s Learn Spanish and her newest book, Bonjour! Let’s Learn French will be published in October
“Language study promotes tolerance for diversity.”
Visit: http://www.polyglotkidz.com
¡HOLA! Let’s Learn Spanish
NABE Pinnacle Book Achievement Award Winner Winter 2017
Honorable Mention Educational Purple Dragonfly Book Award 2017
Available on Amazon.com
softcover printed:
http://amzn.to/29Hu1hn
Kindle:
http://amzn.to/2ey4yhV
B&N:
http://bit.ly/2eNNi6o
Like me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJudyMartialay/
follow me on Twitter
Judy Martialay@judyruth10
Lead with languages
