Why Learn Spanish

Dr. Olenka BilashUniversity of Albertaobilash@ualberta.ca

Robert Warren SchoolCalgary

February 24, 2011

This evening’s goals

Value of learning a SL

Value of learning Spanish

Question-answers at any time

Did you know that. . .

12,965,495 Canadians speak a language other than English.

That’s 42% of the Canadian population

Your children can be a part of this growing number

Job market

Why learn Spanish?

International understanding UN vision

“Monolingualism will not serve the next generation well - it implies inflexibility and the presumption that others should always be prepared to communicate with us.”

Plurilingualism

http://www.flashmapped.com/enEN/features/multilingual.htmlhttp://portal.unesco.org/education/en/ev.php-URL_ID=56003&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Welcome_multilingual_Guernsey_tourism.jpg

Did you know that. . .

It takes 10,000 hours to get good at anything (developmental psychologist Erik Erickson)

To form identity requires Time Agents of influence (people, places, music,

heroes) Symbols Choice Belonging

Did you know that. . .

It takes 10,000 hours to get good at anything (developmental psychologist Erik Erickson)

E.g. hockey (skating as of 2-3 years of age

2-3: Twice a week x 25 weeks = 50 hours x 2 yrs=100

4-5: 3hrs a week x 25 weeks = 75 hours x 2 yrs=150

6-9: 4hrs a week x 25 weeks = 100 hours x 4 yrs=400

10-12: 6hrs a week x 35 weeks= 210 hours x 3 yrs=630

13-16: 12hrs a week x 40 weeks= 480 hours x 4 yrs=1,920

} 650

}3,200

Did you know that. . .

It takes 10,000 hours to get good at anything (developmental psychologist Erik Erickson)

E.g. dancing (as of 2-3 years of age)

2-3: Twice a week x 25 weeks = 50 hours x 2 yrs=100

4-5: 3hrs a week x 25 weeks = 75 hours x 2 yrs=150

6-9: 4hrs a week x 25 weeks = 100 hours x 4 yrs=400

10-12: 6hrs a week x 35 weeks= 210 hours x 3 yrs=630

13-16: 12hrs a week x 40 weeks= 480 hours x 4 yrs=1,920

} 650

}3,200

Did you know that. . .

It takes 10,000 hours to get good at anything (developmental psychologist Erik Erickson)

E.g. learning one’s first language (MT)

0-2: 12 hrs x 365 days = 4,380 hrs x 2 yrs=9,660 (listening)

0-5: 4hrs x 365 days= 1460 hours x 5 yrs=7300 (speaking)

5-17: 5hrs a day x 5 days x40 weeks = 1000 hours x 12 yrs=12000 (academic literacy, writing, numeracy)

Did you know that. . .

It takes 10,000 hours to get good at anything (developmental psychologist Erik Erickson)

E.g. learning Spanish in the bilingual program

5-12: 2 hrs x 5 days = 10 hrs x 35 wks = 350 hrs x 8 yrs = 2800 hrs

You need more: Summer camps FUN Homework Movies and music Travel Homestay hosts

• Symbols of success

• Agents of influence

• Feeling of belonging

Why learn Spanish?

Academic-Intellectual development

International understanding UN vision

Alberta Education reports…

Second Language students have higher test scores in reading, language and mathematics

Second langauge education significantly strengthens first language skills in the areas of reading, vocabulary, grammar and communication skills

Students fluent in two languages score higher in both verbal and non-verbal intelligence…

Students studying a second language are superior in divergent thinking tasks and in memory ability and attention span

Students studying a second language display greater Cultural sensitivity…

National Network for Early Language Learning

(NNELL) reports Foreign language learning is much more a cognitive problem solving activity

than a linguistic activity, overall.

Studies have shown repeatedly that foreign language learning increases critical thinking skills, creativity, and flexibility of mind in young children.

Students who are learning a foreign language out-score their non-foreign language learning peers in the verbal and, surprisingly to some, the math sections of standardized tests.

This relationship between foreign language study and increased mathematical skill development, particularly in the area of problem solving, points once again to the fact that second language learning is more of a cognitive than linguistic activity.”

Therese Sullivan Caccavale, president of the National Network for Early Language Learning (NNELL)

A Second Language ADDS to life

INCREASES

Social

Physical

Intellectual

Cultural

Emotional

Good ability in Mother tongue helps learn a new language.

Learning a new language helps mother tongue.

Why learn Spanish?

Academic-Intellectual development

International understanding UN vision

Global communication

Spanish Language around the Globe

• Spanish is the 3rd most used language in the world

• NATIVE: 350 million

• Second: 70 million

• TOTAL: 420 million

Spanish is the official language of 21 countries

Did you know that

The Hispanic population in the US has grown by 60% in the last ten years

US has the fifth largest Spanish speaking population in the world (behind Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Spain respectively).

International population

Why learn Spanish?

Academic-Intellectual development

International understanding UN vision

Global lingua francaSocial-personal-travel Personal empathy

“and Culture is Language” Franz Boas

“LANGUAGE IS CULTURE”

There is an intimate connection between language and culture.

Social justice - Volunteer

• Translators Without Borders:• A not-for-profit association which

provides free translations for humanitarian organizations.

• Witness repots, articles, field manuals, textbooks

Why learn Spanish?

Academic-Intellectual development

International understanding UN vision

Global lingua francaSocial-personal-travel Personal empathy

National-International Job mobility

UK newspapers report

There is an urgent requirement for qualified speakers of languages other than English in the areas of science, technology, medicine, and global commerce…

However, no matter what career you enter, you will be interacting with others around the world on routine basis, and doing business locally with those whose native language is not English…

-

Job opportunities Government services

Education,

International business

Communication and radio

Intelligence or law enforcement

Service

Trades

Applying for jobs Advantages of Knowing a Second Language

when Applying for a job: Cultural Sensitivity Provide service to twice as many people Leads to better career opportunities in all

sectors of the economy – tourism, business, health care, the arts, and beyond.

Source: www.international.alberta.ca/608.cfm

Facebook

See also: http://www.insidefacebook.com/2010/08/25/facebooks-spanish-language-market-marked-by-fragmentation-but-promises-opportunity/

How can we increase positive

identity To build identity

Time (It takes 10,000 hours to get good at anything)

Agents of influence (people, places, music, heroes)

Symbols Choice Belonging

AND

Acknowledgement

Linguapax – UNESCO

Certificates to acknowledge growth and skill in languages and intercultural competency

Students age groups

Under 12 12-15 16-18

Parents - families

Teachers (language teachers, all subject teachers)

5 tasks

5 tasks

Language ability

Cultural knowledge and awareness

Intercultural communication

Project (with someone from another culture) conference

Essay

FREE! Register online

Special acknowledgement for schools with large percentage of students that complete

Through learning language

Through learning language

We learn about culture

Through learning about culture

We learn respect

Through learning respect for others

We can hope for peace.

“El que habla dos lenguas vale por dos” (The person who speaks two languages is worth two)

- Anonymous

Thank you Gracias

Questions??

ReferencesAlberta Education.Benefits of Second Language Learning. Retrieved January 15, 2010, from

http://education.alberta.ca/teachers/resources/learnlang/benefits.aspx

Baker, C. (2006). Chapter 7: Bilingualism and Cognition. In Baker, C. (4th ed.), Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. 135-161. North York: Multilingual Matters Ltd.

Caccalve, T. (2007). Cognitive Benefits of Learning Language. Pulled from American Council of the Teaching Foreign Languages. Retrieved from : http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=4724

Duranti, Alessandro. (1997). “Language is culture and culture is Language” Linguistic Anthropology. Cambridge University Press. Qtd. in blog by Sophia Danger Kunen. Retrieved January 16, 2010. http://sciencewhynot.blogspot.com/2009/03/language-is-culture-and-culture-is.html

Fleming, Grace. Foreign Language Study. Retrieved January 16, 2010. http://homeworktips.about.com/od/homeworktopics/a/foreignlanguage.htm

Ho, C. (2008, My big fat Greek lessons: Martina Faitakis gives up Saturdays to learn her hertiage languages. Edmonton Journal, pp. A1-A11.

IHLA. (2010). Sikh Cultural and Spiritual Assembly. Retrieved January 15, 2010, from http://ihlamld72010.blogspot.com/2010/01/sikh-cultural-spiritual-assembly.html

International heritage language association of Alberta. (2008). 30th anniversary gala program: 5th annual international mother language day. Edmonton City Hall. (February 22-23) 7-8.

Mantell, R. (2008). Knowing a Second Language Pays Off. Recruiting Nevada. Retrieved from http://news.recruitingnevada.com/article.php?id=2237

ReferencesPerez, I. A. (2005/2006). Nonverbal Communication. International Journal of Learning, 12

(9), 285-295. Retrieved from

http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=tnh&AN=24953861&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site

Omniglot. Why should I learn a language. Retrieved January 16, 2010. http://www.omniglot.com/language/why.htm

Rollins, G.5 Benefits to Learning Spanish. Retrieved January 10, 2010, from http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Benefits-To-Learning-Spanish&id=647365

Saville-Troike, M. (2006). Chapter 4: The psychology of Second Language Acquisition. In Saville-Troike, M., Introducing Second Language Acquisition. 67-97. New York: Cambridge University Press.

Schools. Retrieved from

http://www.tfs.ca/academic-program/bilingual-advantage.html

Translators Without Borders. Retrieved From http://tsf.eurotexte.fr/index-en.shtml

Tychnowicz, W. (2008). Colorful Culture.(Sunday February 24,2008), A14.

Vistawide: World Languages and Culture. Retrieved from http://www.vistawide.com/languages/top_30_languages.htm

Weatherford, H. J. (1987). Personal Benefits of Foreign Language Study. ERIC Digests, 1-4. Retrieved from http://login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=ED276305&loginpage=Login.asp&site=ehost-live&scope=site

References: Images Spanish around the globe

Flags: http://osx.lps.org/manila/bmullen/countries3.jpg

What are the Overall Affects of Academics? Brain:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-ca%3AIE-SearchBox&um=1&sa=1&q=smart+brain&aq=f&oq=&aqi=g1&start=0

Volunteer Trilingual Translators Without Borders logo: <Images:

http://tsf.eurotexte.fr/downloads/MultiL-humanitariantrans.pdf

Spanish is the official language of the

following countries…Argentina

Bolivia

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Cuba

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Guatemala

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Puerto Rico

Spain

Uruguay

Venezuela