Teachers

Community Leaders

Parents

Business stakeholders

Administrators

Government stakeholders

Teachers

Teachers of all subjects at all levels can be vocal, visible supporters of language programs. Those involved in languages, of course, are the frontline supporters who are perceived as the “expert witnesses” and who have a vested interest in maintaining and expanding these programs. But all educators can provide evidence of the critical importance of languages in developing cognitive thinking, problem solving and an understanding of world cultures.

Talk to your students about why their language programs are so important. Reinforce their decision to study languages and help them see the immediate and future benefits they’ll reap from the work.

This also should be an important part of your presentation at back-to-school night events. Let parents know that it is important for them to offer support and encouragement to their students.

Make an effort to participate in local activities, from civic associations to area service clubs to school board meetings. Offer to organize student demonstrations of what the language programs are teaching, not just about languages but cultures as well.

Administrators

Look for opportunities to strengthen the position of your language programs when meeting with other administrators in your school and district. Demonstrate how language study enhances the performance of students in other areas and complements those other programs.

Seek opportunities to speak to your school board and to civic organizations. As an educator AND a representative of school “management,” you occupy a respected position and can be seen as a spokesperson with expertise yet less of a personal agenda to support.

Community leaders

Civic organization leaders are responsible for guiding the development of their communities in order to offer an enhanced lifestyle for the citizens and to create an environment that attracts new residents and businesses. If you are a member or leader of local civic associations, service clubs like Kiwanis, Lions, Elks, Moose, and Rotary, and volunteer clubs at places of worship, you can be a great ally for language learning and you can offer a forum to reach diverse groups and explain how language learning can benefit your members. Be sure to invite your local schools’ language educators and their students to come to your meetings and discuss the benefits of their programs.

Community organizations exercise substantial influence with those in local government and school administration who control the budget purse strings. Encourage your members to let these officials know that you support a strong investment in language education.

Parents

Parents must be the strongest voice outside of the academic system because legislators and school boards recognize their responsibility to provide the education that parents want for their children. Traditionally, many parents considered a language curriculum to be a necessary part of the resume of a college-bound student. Today, however, parents understand that these programs raise students’ overall academic performance, give them a better appreciation for different cultures and prepare young people for the kinds of careers that the global economy will offer in the future.

Encouraging students of all ages to explore the vast options offered by language programs in their schools begins at home. Discuss these opportunities with your children. Make sure that they are aware of the immediate and long-term benefits that language study offers, in improved academic performance, in planning for their future lives, in achieving true proficiency in a second language and in making their lives away from school more exciting through knowing other cultures.

One of the strongest platforms available to parents is their local PTA organization. With its local, statewide and national infrastructure, the PTA enjoys the kind of recognition and prestige necessary to make the pro-language message heard by those whose support is needed. Attending meetings where school programs are discussed is important, but making a brief presentation about your school’s language curriculum is even better.

More information for parents on language learning.

Business stakeholders

Businesses of every size and nature must speak up for the programs that will provide the workforce they will need in the future and that will enable American companies to maintain a position of strength in the global economy. No matter how large or small your business may be or whether you are in the service, retail or manufacturing industry, your operation is international in one way or another.

On the local level, every business in every sector will face a greater need for workers who possess the language and cultural skills to interact with customers, other employees, suppliers and local government officials to ensure that business grows. If you serve a broader market, it is no longer wise to assume that your consumers or competitors rely on English as the language of business. If you want to appear concerned about your customers … and on the leading edge with your competition … you need to communicate with them on their terms in order to assure that your messages are understood.

Government stakeholders

Local, state and national officials need to put their support behind programs that will encourage more teacher education at the postsecondary level, increase funding opportunities for students to choose that career path, provide incentives for schools to expand language programs, and give ALL students … from elementary through postsecondary … concrete reasons to take language study seriously.

Officials at the highest levels of national government must recognize the critical role that languages play in our national security and economic strength, and in our ability to build mutually beneficial relationships with other cultures. We need multilingual representatives who can interact and negotiate with other countries and cultures, and doing so in other languages often can assure that meaning and intent are not lost in translation.

America’s leadership role in the global economy also relies on greater understanding of the diverse cultures with whom we interact, trade and compete. Since cultural awareness is an integral part of all language learning, these educational programs build a population of graduates who possess the broad knowledge such understanding requires. This is how our leadership can build stronger international relationships … and avoid international conflicts.