Reaching Global Competence

Autor: Mary Lynn Redmond
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Zdroj: Foreign Language Annals. 47:1-2
ISSN: 0015-718X
DOI: 10.1111/flan.12067
Popis: In recent months, there has been heightened attention to global education on the part of government, education, and industry. These sectors of our society recognize that global education is not a question of need in U.S. schools; we are far beyond the point of urgency in preparation of students who are well equipped to live and thrive in our 21st-century global society. The question is: What are we going to do about it?While it is certainly heartening for world language pro- fessionals to witness the increased interest in changing the education experience for students in PK-16 so that all students in U.S. schools have the opportunity to become globally prepared citizens, this goal has long been a part of our belief system. We value global education and hold firm to the belief that languages are the core of global preparation; the study of languages makes global competence possible. Therefore, how can we ensure as a profession that our students have access to experiences that will enable them to reach global competence?Several collaborative projects and initiatives are underway that will have a significant impact on ACTFL's work to raise public awareness of the major role of PK-16 language study in the development of a globally competent citizenry.The "Languages for All?" conference held September 30, 2013, on the campus of the University of Maryland convened more than 150 educators, policy makers, researchers, and experts in national intelligence to discuss the question of how the United States can make languages a reality for all students in PK-16. Participants at this forum, organized by the University of Maryland Center for Advanced Study in partnership with ACTFL, responded to the white paper written by experts in our field that cites evidence of the increased demand for languages other than English in the past 10 years and the failure of schools to prepare students with these critical skills (Brecht et al., 2013).U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan raised similar concerns at the opening event of International Education Week on November 18, 2013, saying,Today, a nation's prosperity depends on its people's ability to thrive in the global marketplace. This is true for the U.S. and for our neighbors across the globe. What's more, in a nation as diverse as ours, the ability to interact comfortably and confidently with people of all backgrounds and points of view is critical. And that makes it more important than ever to provide all students with a well-rounded, world-class education-including opportunities to gain global competencies and world language skills; to understand other cultures; and to study abroad. (U.S. Department of Education, 2013, n.p, italics in original)Secretary Duncan's introductory remarks launched "Mapping the Nation: Making the Case for Global Competency," an interactive map predicated on North Carolina's Center for International Understanding's work and produced by the Asia Society, the Longview Foundation, and SAS. This online resource shows the nation's global competitiveness based on data on economics, demographics, and education in each state and county (Asia Society; 2013; see http://mappingthenation. …
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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