Archive by Author
Training Students to be Global Citizens Posted by kheudorfer on Nov 1, 2010 in Archived Posts
How do we train our country’s children to be global citizens–knowledgeable about the world and in possession of the skills to succeed in it? An Education Week article has three suggestions for moving the needle in this direction, all of which focus on large-scale systemic changes: The U.S. should make a commitment to developing globally-focused…
Joint Commission Focuses on Language Skills in Hospitals Posted by kheudorfer on Oct 13, 2010 in Archived Posts
Given that over 20% of our population speaks a language other than English, bilingualism is increasingly important for some medical professionals. The Joint Commission’s new initiative seeks to increase hospitals’ focus on language skills and cultural awareness: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/louis-provenzano/hospitals-must-overcome-l_b_749321.html The Joint Commission has set ambitious goals for the future, but they are critical to the health…
Don’t Sweat the Grammar Posted by kheudorfer on Jul 27, 2010 in Archived Posts
Don’t get us wrong; grammar is important! But when you first start learning a language, you should focus on acquiring vocabulary. Because sometimes, just knowing a single word in a language can make all the difference. In his book Vocabulary Myths, Keith Folse tells a story about not knowing the right word. Having just moved…
Growing Need for Bilingual Educators Posted by kheudorfer on Jul 16, 2010 in Archived Posts
The number of bilingual students in the US is growing rapidly, and there is a pressing need for teachers who are also bilingual or are trained in working with this growing population. The US Department of Education reported on the growth rate over the last 30 years: the proportion of children who speak a language…