The gives us good look at what languages will stand really stand out in the near future. It gives good reason for the 3 languages (besides English) that is emphasizes. From a locked thread:
Today I want to give you some information about the world of languages and the development of second language learning. There is an interesting study from David Graddol, ‘English Next’ (British Council, 2006) which gives a good analysis of the future of languages. I’ll try to summarize some of the findings here below.
Economic, demographic and cultural changes have driven the development of foreign language education, not only English as the world’s primary language for international communication, but also other growing languages such as Spanish, Arabic or Mandarin and spreading of languages as Japanese, French and German. The Internet has made the world smaller, technology enabling new patterns of communication in ways which also have implications for language learning.
The massive increase in the number of people learning English is likely to reach a peak of around 2 billion in the next 10–15 years, with a significant increase coming from Chinese students, estimated now at around 250 million English learners, increasing of about 20 million per year.
Also other languages, including lesser-used languages, are now proliferating, and Mandarin and Spanish are challenging English in some territories for educational resources and policy attention.
The attractiveness of Mandarin to learners across the world is growing, and language schools in many countries are expanding their provision to include it. In many Asian countries, in Europe and USA, Mandarin has emerged as the new must-have language.
An estimated 30 million people are already studying Mandarin worldwide, and China very ambitious goal is to have 100 million foreigners studying Mandarin by end 2010. The Chinese government now actively supports the growing interest worldwide in learning Chinese as a foreign or second language through a program- Hanban- and a worldwide network of ‘Confucius Institutes’.
Spanish has grown to be roughly the same size as English in terms of native-speakers, and may overtake it. The language is growing in economic importance in both Latin America and the United States, challenging English in some parts of the USA. Brazil, one of the most important new economies outside India and China, passed a law in July 2005 requiring all secondary schools in the country to offer Spanish courses, allowing students to choose it as an alternative to English..
Arabic is growing, demographically, faster than any other world language. The generation of Arabic speakers now growing up will determine its future as a world language. Spoken Arabic is likely to acquire a more transnational standard form as Al Jazeera and similar international agencies provide a model equivalent to ‘BBC English’.
http://www.myngle.com/blog/2007/09/29/the-market-for-foreign-language-learning
Your thoughts?
Today I want to give you some information about the world of languages and the development of second language learning. There is an interesting study from David Graddol, ‘English Next’ (British Council, 2006) which gives a good analysis of the future of languages. I’ll try to summarize some of the findings here below.
Economic, demographic and cultural changes have driven the development of foreign language education, not only English as the world’s primary language for international communication, but also other growing languages such as Spanish, Arabic or Mandarin and spreading of languages as Japanese, French and German. The Internet has made the world smaller, technology enabling new patterns of communication in ways which also have implications for language learning.
The massive increase in the number of people learning English is likely to reach a peak of around 2 billion in the next 10–15 years, with a significant increase coming from Chinese students, estimated now at around 250 million English learners, increasing of about 20 million per year.
Also other languages, including lesser-used languages, are now proliferating, and Mandarin and Spanish are challenging English in some territories for educational resources and policy attention.
The attractiveness of Mandarin to learners across the world is growing, and language schools in many countries are expanding their provision to include it. In many Asian countries, in Europe and USA, Mandarin has emerged as the new must-have language.
An estimated 30 million people are already studying Mandarin worldwide, and China very ambitious goal is to have 100 million foreigners studying Mandarin by end 2010. The Chinese government now actively supports the growing interest worldwide in learning Chinese as a foreign or second language through a program- Hanban- and a worldwide network of ‘Confucius Institutes’.
Spanish has grown to be roughly the same size as English in terms of native-speakers, and may overtake it. The language is growing in economic importance in both Latin America and the United States, challenging English in some parts of the USA. Brazil, one of the most important new economies outside India and China, passed a law in July 2005 requiring all secondary schools in the country to offer Spanish courses, allowing students to choose it as an alternative to English..
Arabic is growing, demographically, faster than any other world language. The generation of Arabic speakers now growing up will determine its future as a world language. Spoken Arabic is likely to acquire a more transnational standard form as Al Jazeera and similar international agencies provide a model equivalent to ‘BBC English’.
http://www.myngle.com/blog/2007/09/29/the-market-for-foreign-language-learning
Your thoughts?