PR Newswire – Staff Writer
“The American Academy of Arts and Sciences today announced the formation of the Commission on Language Learning, a national effort to examine the current state of U.S. language education, to project what the nation’s education needs will be in the future, and to offer recommendations for ways to meet those needs…Americans are more engaged around the globe than ever before, and most of the major challenges and opportunities—from public health issues to the development of new technologies—require international understanding and cooperation. Yet, by some estimates, as many as 80% of Americans can only speak one language, while, by contrast, 50% of Europeans over the age of 15 are able to converse in a second language. “Language learning should be among our highest educational priorities in the 21st century,” American Academy President Jonathan Fanton said.”(more)