Making language and culture education available for all Montanans
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why support second language education?


Social and academic benefits of k-5 world language exposure
  • Improved executive function- self-control, listening skills, behavior 
  • Overall school performance - increased reading and math test scores
  • Superior problem-solving skills 
  • Increased awareness & sensitivity to other cultures & racially & culturally diverse peers
  • Better pronunciation in native language 
  • Increased likelihood of fluency in >1 language

A 2017 bi-partisan sponsored report by the Commission on Language Learning, found 
  • "The ability to understand, speak, read and write in world languages, in addition to English is critical to success in business, research and international relations in the 21st century."
  • "The US needs more peoples to speak languages other than English in order to provide social and legal services for a changing population."
  • "The study of a second language has been linked to improved learning outcomes in other subjects, enhanced cognitive ability and the development of empathy and effective interpretive skills." (see below for details)

What other US school districts are doing to deliver k-5 world language​
  • Minnetonka School District-Minnesota Chinese & Spanish k-5, immersion @ all public schools

Reports
  • American's Languages Investing in Language Education for the 21st Century
  • State of Languages in the US: A statistical portrait
  • Utah Language Roadmap for the 21st Century

Additional Resources 
Want to learn more about the great benefits of multi-language learning? Check out these fantastic resources our team has compiled below!
  • Ted Talk,  "The benefits of a Bilingual Brain"  - Mia Nacamulli"
  • California Department of Education, "Multilingual Education" webpage
  • NorthWestern University, "Global Languages Initiative" webpage

Additional Information
1. Exposure in the studies we reference, generally indicates 20 - 40 minutes of language education once to twice per week, ranging from 1-2 years
2. Marcos, K. 1995. Why, How, and When Should My Child Learn a Second Language? ACCESS ERIC, Rockville, MD; ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics, Washington, D.C.
3. Garfinkel, A. and Tabor, K. E. 1991. Elementary School Foreign Languages and English Reading Achievement: A New View of the Relationship. Foreign Language Annals, 24: 375–382.
4. ACTFL Research Citations on the Benefits of Early Language
"Our language is our window to the world. Learning another language is an additional window. Let's learn Arabic and let us have another window. "

~ Arabic coach, Mouloud Mahi

Location

World Language Initiative - MT (WLI-MT)
Making language education available to all Montanans
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Mailing address & office location: Emerson Cultural Center, Suite 202, 111 South Grand Avenue,
Bozeman MT 59715

Program admin hrs: M,T, W 9-3 and F 9-12 |
​406-414-6419
Please email ​info@wlimt.org

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  • Home
  • Donate
    • Business Donations
    • Individual Donations
  • About
    • Why Languages?
    • Our Team >
      • Join Our Team
  • Programs
    • Current Language Programs
    • In-School Day Programs
    • Community Nights
  • Language Initiatives
    • Arabic Initiative
    • BELLA Initiative
    • German Initiative
  • Happening Now!
  • WLI Blog
  • Team Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe