Advocacy in Action
Advocacy Updates at your Fingertips in This Google+ Community
By Karen Fowdy
One of the best things about the beginning of a new school year is the chance to rethink and reset our good intentions. Because of our passion for learning languages, one of those intentions is surely advocating for learning another language and connecting to other cultures. We know that it is vital to have quick and easy access to information that helps us keep the good intention of sharing the news and research about our profession. This month, I’d like to make you aware of a resource that arrives in your mailbox and informs you about what is happening in Wisconsin and around the world. Read more. |
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Why learning a language keeps your brain young
SOURCE: Todd Schlenker (@usmTodd)
The British are the worst in Europe for learning foreign languages, with little over a third of us able to speak anything other than English, according to a recent survey by the European Commission. But should we all be making a bit more of an effort to become at least bilingual, not just to boost our conversational prowess when we travel abroad, but also to ward off dementia? Several studies over the years have suggested that becoming proficient in at least one language other than our mother tongue is good for the brain, especially in terms of boosting recall, attention span and concentration. Daily Mail (U.K.)
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U.S. bilingual population grows since 1980s
SOURCE: ACTFL SmartBrief
The U.S. Census Bureau does not keep track of those who use two or more languages in their everyday lives, but since 1980 it does ask three language questions: Does this person speak a language other than English at home? What is this language? How well does this person speak English (very well, well, not well, not at all)? These questions were first asked in the census every 10 years, but are now part of the annual American Community Survey (ACS). Psychology Today |
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