Rischelle Bayless GEDU 603

Frenchy’s top 10 reasons to learn French 10. To be understood in 55 countries and on 5 continents 9. To get exactly what you’re ordering 8. French desserts are the bomb diggity!

7. It’s one of the official languages of the Olympics, NATO, the Red Cross, and the United Nations 6. If you ever ran into Johnny Depp, Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Angelina Jolie, you could have a conversation with them in French 5. Africa may one day become the “super power” that China and India are developing into today

4. No more forgetting where you left your keys – studying French will help increase your memory 3. After English, French is the most frequently taught language in the world 2. Business – we have 2,000 subsidiaries in France and 600 French subsidiaries exist in the U.S.

…and the #1 reason to learn French is

BF Goodrich Tires Bravo Car and Driver Magazine CNBC Crystal Springs (water) Dannon Interscope Records Kahlua Magellan GPS Motel 6 NBC Nissan Motor Philips RCA Red Roof Inns Road & Truck Magazine SCI-FI Channel Seagrams (ginger ale) T-Fal cookware Universal Pictures Universal Studios USA Network Woman’s Day Magazine

Answer:

Why should French be taught in all U.S. high schools? Let’s look at the research…

2008 ACTFL Student Survey Report 152,800 students and 2,236 teachers surveyed representing all of the 50 states More students interested in studying French than any other language 78% of students believed taking a foreign language helped with other classes 60% of students planned on using their foreign language for employment 38% of students planning on using their foreign language for business

Businesses need French speakers 2,000 U.S. subsidiaries in France; 600 French subsidiaries in the U.S. Employers look for employees who can speak one or more foreign languages Learning foreign languages early can translate into an advantage in the work force Other countries start teaching foreign languages in junior high and primary school Mechanics, social workers, medical professionals – there’s more to the business world than the “businessman”

Better understanding of English grammar Increase abstract vocabulary Improve reading & writing skills Improve scores on the verbal sections on standardized tests Reasons for studying a foreign language Cooper Research

Years of foreign language studySAT-VerbalSAT-Math No foreign language study (13.6%) One year Two years Three years Four years Five or more years What conclusions can you draw from this chart?

Foreign languages support core curriculum classes Years of study EnglishMathBiological sciences Physical sciences Social studies Foreign languages No courses One year Two years Three years Four years Five or more years SAT-Verbal Scores

Where do we go from here? Formal presentations to colleagues, administration, school boards Create student advocates Contact local and state representatives Promote foreign language learning in the classroom Informal discussions with friends, students, other staff members, parents, administrators