The State of Foreign Language Education in the U.S.

Online

Many European students know three or more languages (their native language, English, and one other foreign language). This synthesis intends to identify how American students compare to their peers around the globe, by seeking answers to the following questions: What effect does knowing multiple languages have on the learning process?; How many students in the United States know a second language compared to students in Europe?; What are the educational options for learning a foreign language in the United States?; Are these educational options accessible and effective? First, the research surrounding the effects of knowing multiple languages on the learning process are explored. It has been found that knowing multiple languages benefits the learning process by increasing the development of executive function. Additionally, being multilingual affects the density of grey matter in the brain. The synthesis then explores the data comparing the number of students who are studying a foreign language in Europe and in the United States. The possible reasons for the disparity are explored, leading to the next consideration of the synthesis: the education options that are offered in the United States. These options consist of immersion programs, blended learning programs, and traditional classroom instruction. Each of these options is analyzed with respect to their accessibility and effectiveness. The synthesis concludes with a discussion of the effects of multilingualism on the learning process, whether American students are at a disadvantage due to their lack of multilingualism, and the current structures used to teach foreign language with suggestions for improvement.