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World Knowledge & Languages Increase Life Opportunities KimOanh Nguyen-Lam Executive Director CSU Consortium- Strategic Language Initiative kclam@csulb.edu
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U.S. Economy American companies lose an estimated $2 billion a year 30 % of U.S. companies cannot expand internationally International sales continue to exceed domestic sales. Source: Education for Global Leadership: The Importance of International Studies and Foreign Language Education for U.S. Economic and National Security – A CED Publication
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U.S. Business Future U.S. manufacturing jobs: 1/5 exports U.S. business earning growth: 58 % from overseas markets (ex:Coca-cola – 70% of profits from non-U.S. markets) U.S.-Asia trade: $800 Billion+ (outpacing U.S.-Europe) Multi-national companies: 5.4 million U.S. workers U.S.-based multinational corporations: 21.8 million U.S. workers Global mergers: more foreign parent companies in U.S. (DaimlerChrysler AG, Bertelsmann, and BP Amoco) Future careers in business, government, health care, and law enforcement require global knowledge skills.
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CA Economy International Trade Opportunities Exports are 1/4 of CA’s $1.5 trillion economy Over 1 million high-paying jobs in CA related to foreign markets
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U.S. and the World EU Citizens: 56% bilingual 28 % trilingual 11% multilingual U.S. Citizens: 9% bilingual Source: Building a Fluent Workforce –by Janet Hulstrand – International Educator – Sept/Oct 08
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U.S. and the World Average # of languages spoken by business executives European countries: 3.9 Latin America and Asia: 2.5 U.S.: 1.5 U.S. students are “strong technically” but “shortchanged” in cross-cultural experience and “linguistically deprived.” (RAND Corporation survey) Source: Education for Global Leadership: The Importance of International Studies and Foreign Language Education for U.S. Economic and National Security – A CED Publication
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Benefits of foreign language study Mental agility Higher cognitive function Higher SAT scores
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Higher Education Despite having the greatest number of students in higher education in the country, California only enrolls 8.5% of these in foreign language. The majority of these are at the introductory level.
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Time to Proficiency in Selected Languages: Total average 300 hrs foreign language study
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The Language Edge
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California’s Multicultural Society California’s population distribution by ethnicity:
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Tim Scerba, CEO, Mexico and COO, Latin America “The ability to speak multiple languages provides an edge in today’s competitive markets… … Being multilingual and multicultural— is a powerful combination in today’s global market.”
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