Article: Globally Competitive Does Not Mean Globally Competent

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An article in the Huffington Post argues that foreign language instruction and other kinds of global education are integral for creating globally minded graduates who will be able to join today’s multilingual, cross-cultural workforce. The article references how the Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee held a hearing on May 21 on Federal Government Foreign Language Skills. During the two-hour hearing, "the FBI, the Departments of Defense, State, Education and Homeland Security, and a variety of experts including foreign language teachers and the Institute of International Education all agreed that we do not have enough foreign language speakers now nor in the pipeline to meet our national security needs, which includes economic stability in an increasing global marketplace. Expert after expert testified to the benefits and the long-term solutions for this is not an overnight shift. Learning a second language and embracing an international education—one that teaches all subjects through a global lens—will take a fresh start, beginning as early as kindergarten." Allan Goodman, President and CEO of the Institute of International Education, testified at this hearing.

To read the full article, please visit: www.huffingtonpost.com/stacie-nevadomski-berdan/american-education-global_b_1536261.html.