Learning Languages Key To Global Success (NAPSA)—Atleast 150 million Chinese students are learning English, while only 30,000 American students are studying Chinese. Clearly, America needs new approachesin language education. One Example James Fowler, a 2006 Brigham Young University (BYU) graduate and Flagship Fellow, is a stellar example of how The Language Flagship, a federally funded language initiative, is helping students create innovative career avenues in a global economy. Fowler studied political science in combination with Chinese while attending BYU’s Chinese Flagship Program, then worked at a law firm in China after studying at Nanjing University for a semester. “After graduation, I was hired by the U.S. Department of Commerce,” said Fowler. “Skills gained in the program prepared me to communicate effectively with my Chinese counterparts during negotiations I was involved in between U.S. construction industry leaders and the Chinese Ministry of Construction.” The Program The Language Flagship program helps students become global professionals by partnering with more than 20 U.S.colleges, universities and other partners radically changing how languages are taught. Students study in the U.S. and then enroll in at least one year of study and internship through Overseas Flagship Centers in countries such as Egypt, China, India, South Korea, Russia and Syria. By enrolling students from all majors and disciplines, Flagship programs mainstream language study into a student’s curriculum, ensuring that they will be capable of functioning in their profession in Learning another language can be good for you and good for America. the target language. Students graduate with superior linguistic abilities that are comparable to a native speaker’s. The program focuses on languagescritical to U.S. competitiveness and security including Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, African languages and Korean. Pilot programs in three school districts partnering with The Language Flagship are contributing to efforts to increase the number of K-12 graduates entering college with well-developed languageskills. The Department of Defense, NASA, KPMG and the U.S. Department of State are among the employers who have hired graduates from the program. Scholarships, fellowships and institutional grants are available each year. “These groundbreaking programs are directly addressing the concerns of government, business and the general public regarding America’s ability to compete effectively in the global environment,” says National Security Education Program Director Robert Slater. Learn More For more information, see www.thelanguageflagship.org.
