Globalization: A Reader For Writers By Maria Jerskey

Thank you so much for asking me to take on this project for the city of Carmel, Indiana. I have finished reading the book on globalization that you suggested, Globalization: A Reader for Writers by Maria Jerskey, and given my expertise in the field of education, I have come up with a couple of suggestions in regards to foreign languages in the Carmel Clay School district. Firstly, I would like to propose bringing back foreign language, specifically Spanish, into all eleven elementary schools. As of now, there is no longer any foreign language in the elementary schools. Spanish used to be part of the curriculum starting in the 3rd grade. I propose to bring back Spanish starting at the kindergarten level. Second, I think we need to alter

Studying a language is one way to do that, however it can be very difficult to learn at first because “it seems to require paying attention to a new set of distinctions” (Boroditsky 137). The learner must not only focus on what the differences in languages are but why they are different. For example, in languages like Russian and French nouns are assigned specific pronouns. Ice cream in French is feminine, while bed is masculine. This may sound crazy to an English speaker! This categorization shows the qualities and associations that native speakers have towards inanimate objects (Boroditsky 142). In America we don’t do this, but learning how and why some languages do this offers a glimpse into their thought processes and views. “Language is central to our experience of being human, and the languages we speak profoundly shape the way we think, the way we see the world, and the way we live our lives” (Boroditsky 143). The article Death by Monoculture by Stephen Pax Leonard presented the same idea that languages have key “insights into how groups of speakers ‘know the world’” (147). Learning a foreign language is more than saying “hello,” “good-bye,” and “where is the bathroom” or learning the verb conjugation of “to have.” In order to fully understand a language, you must study not only study the mechanics, such as grammar and pronunciation, but cultural customs (Polanki 171). Foreign language teachers teach lessons on the corresponding countries’ history, art, cuisine, education which not only makes the learning process fun for students but offers a fully immersive educational experience. By understanding the what, how, and why of a language and culture “we can often experience the appeal of values that aren’t, exactly, our own” (Appiah 19). From a young age we can teach empathy and expand their