- Before hearing Cheung’s presentation, I knew that California was a powerhouse of international trade in the US, but I had a clearer picture of our region’s economic potential after hearing Stephen Cheung’s presentation. It seems that one of the factors that make Los Angeles such a desirable area to do business is its diversity, and I think that is a very significant factor to consider as we prepare our students for life beyond school. One of the things that is most concerning to me as a foreign language teacher is our schools’ approach towards cultivating literacy and fluency in foreign languages. In thinking of my experience as a young child in LA, I can distinctly remember a very concerted effort not just to help students develop in the English language, but I also remember there being legislation to get rid of dual language programs. Today we seem to be fostering a more open mind towards multilingualism, however the rate with which our students are loosing fluency in their home language is alarming. What is more, the use of multilingual education programs seems to be a resource more readily reserved for schools that are in wealthier areas, and so this directly helps to contribute to the oligarchical social structures that are already in place. If we are to prepare our young people to be at the negotiating tables of companies that choose to relocate to the US, it is of upmost importance that we train them to communicate and understand in a multilinguistic way.
edited by nramon on 8/2/2016
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