|
|
U.S. Department of Education |
|
|
|
U.S. Department of Education |
|
The Department of Education
The Department of Defense Medical Interagency Satellite Training Network (MIST)
Presents:
“Teaching Foreign Languages:
Understanding the World and Helping Our Students Compete”
a. Sponsors: This program is sponsored for
Military and Federal GETN subscribers by The Department of Education with the
technical support of the Satellite Education Network (SEN) at Ft. Lee, VA.
b. Availability: This free, public domain, live broadcast will be available on the GETN Military/GETN/Warrior digital CDV satellite network. (NOTE: This program WILL NOT be available on small digital dish networks such as DirecTV or Echostar systems.)
Will this program be Webcast? Yes….Archived. See final confirmation sent 2-3 days prior to broadcast.
c. Target Audience Statement: The target audience will be public and private educators, principles, teachers, and military and federal audiences interested in this topic.
d. Program Summary: "When it comes to foreign languages,
our students get started too late-and too few study critical languages. We
can and must turn this around." --U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings
The benefits of studying foreign languages are many and well known. It can
broaden your experience and expand your view of the world; improve your
knowledge of your own language; improve your skills in other subjects such as
mathematics; expand your cultural awareness and sensitivity; and broaden your
employment opportunities. In a world where our security and economic,
diplomatic and political success depend on mutual respect and cultural
understanding, it is vital that American students learn foreign
languages-especially "critical need" languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi,
and Farsi. However, research shows that less than one percent of American high
school students combined, study any of the critical-need languages. In
addition, while Chinese is the most widely spoken first language in the world,
less than one-half of one percent of American students taking a foreign language
in grades K-12 study Chinese.
The U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with other federal and state
agencies, is working with schools and communities to boost foreign language
acquisition through the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI). Earlier
this month, the Department awarded $22 million in grants to school districts and
states under the Foreign Language Assistance Program to help dramatically
increase the number of Americans learning.
This edition of Education News will feature a conversation with experts from school districts, associations and others about what is being done in our nation's schools and communities to ensure that students graduate with the ability to communicate in critical languages. The broadcast will explore ways to provide students with the language skills to engage foreign governments and peoples, especially in critical regions; to encourage reform and promote understanding; convey respect for other cultures; and provide an opportunity for others to learn more about America and its citizens. The show will help address questions such as:
· Why is foreign language instruction so important today, especially in "critical need" languages?
· What does brain research say about the importance of learning second languages?
· What are policymakers, together with schools, doing to increase the number of students learning critical foreign languages? How does the National Security Language Initiative fit into this effort?
· What can parents and communities do to promote foreign language proficiency in children, and to encourage children to learn about and respect other languages and cultures?
· What do effective school- and district-level foreign language instruction programs look like? What steps can parents take if their child's school has no foreign language program?
e. DVD/Videotape Availability: None, sites should tape from broadcast.
f. Videotape release (if taping from broadcast): This FREE program is unclassified and non-scrambled. There are no copyright restrictions on this program, however it MAY NOT be videotaped and re-broadcast where fees are attached to its showing. It may not be used for commercial purposes or for profit purposes by commercial organizations without additional permission of the sponsors.
g. Registration: All military and federal GETN sites MUST register for this FREE, public domain program to receive the necessary illumination authentication (GETN/Warrior dishes) and coordinates. Sites may register at: http://www.dlnets.com/telereg.htm or by calling Ed Kronholm’s Office, the Satellite Registrations Coordinator, toll free at 877-820-0305 or 888-820-4898.
h. Future Programs: For future information on free interagency satellite broadcasts co-sponsored by the DOD MIST program (subject to change due to satellite availability and other scheduling issues) and other sponsors please visit this web site: (Information changes periodically; please refresh your browser upon each visit) http://www.dlnets.com/itv.htm#current
Return to
Schedule
Return to
DL Networks Homepage
