Modern language: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added
AnomieBOT (talk | contribs)
m Dating maintenance tags: {{Merge to}}
No edit summary
 
(10 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 2:
{{Redirect|Living language|the publisher|Living Language}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2010}}
A '''modern language''' is any [[Language|human language]] that is currently in use as a [[First language|native language]]. The term is used in [[language education]] to distinguish between languages which are used for day-to-day communication (such as [[French language|French]] and [[German language|German]]) and [[Extinct language|dead]] [[classical language]]s such as [[Latin]] and [[Classical Chinese]], which are studied for their cultural orand linguistic value.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}} [[SIL Ethnologue]] defines a '''living language''' as "one that has at least one speaker for whom it is their first language" (see also [[Language#Linguistic diversity|Language § Linguistic diversity]]).
 
== Teaching ==
{{merge toexcerpt|Language education by region|discuss=Talk:Language education by region#Merge|date=July 2023}}
 
{{See also|Language education}}
Modern languages are taught extensively around the world; see [[second language acquisition]]. [[English language|English]] is taught as a [[second language|second]] or [[foreign language]] in many countries; see [[English language learning and teaching]].
 
=== Asia ===
In Asia, most children learn an official version of their native language or learn a local major [[lingua franca]] (for example [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]], [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]]) in Asia-Pacific countries, and all subjects are taught in that lingua franca language except for foreign language lessons. [[Singapore]], in which English is taught as a first language, is an exception. In [[India]], Hindi and English are used both official languages of the [[Government of India]] and are both compulsory languages to learn in many schools. Many students also study official regional Indian languages along with English. English is the most-studied foreign language in the [[People's Republic of China]], [[India]], [[Pakistan]], [[Japan]], [[South Korea]], [[Republic of China]] ([[Taiwan]]), [[Singapore]] and [[Hong Kong]]. In China, English is a required language starting in [[third grade]], although the quality of instruction varies greatly. In [[Nepal]], almost all subjects are taught in English, except for [[Nepali literature]].
 
==== Pakistan ====
 
In [[Pakistan]], English has the status of an official language and is widely used within the government, by the civil service and the officer ranks of the military. Pakistan's Constitution and laws are written in English. It is also taught extensively in both public and private schools. Studying of English is compulsory in Pakistan along with [[Urdu]] (the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan). Regional languages of Pakistan are open to choice and a student is free to either pursue them or not. Nearly all schools, colleges and universities use English as the medium of instruction.
 
==== Malaysia ====
 
In [[Malaysia]], [[Malay language|Malay]] and English are taught as compulsory languages from the first year of primary school with the exception of publicly funded [[vernacular]] schools (known as national type schools). In the latter, either [[Standard Mandarin|Mandarin]] or [[Tamil language|Tamil]] are taught as additional compulsory languages. In non-vernacular schools, all subjects with the exception of the [[science]]s and [[mathematics]] are taught in Malay. In vernacular schools, all subjects with the exception of the sciences and mathematics are taught in the primary language that is used in the respective schools. The sciences and mathematics are taught in English, although some Mandarin vernacular schools have dispensation to teach those subjects concurrently in Mandarin.
 
==== Sri Lanka ====
 
In Sri Lanka, where the official state languages are [[Sinhala language|Sinhalese]], Tamil, and English, all government schools instruct either in Sinhala or Tamil. A few higher-level government schools (national-level schools) also offer instruction in English. All students studying in Sinhalese or Tamil are also taught English as a second language. All students studying in Sinhalese are also taught Tamil as a second language, and vice versa.
 
=== Middle East and North Africa ===
Language study in the Middle East and North Africa varies from one country to another, usually depending on the foreign nation that colonized or occupied the country. For instance, in [[Algeria]], [[Morocco]], and [[Tunisia]], [[French language|French]] is the most widely studied language besides the native [[Arabic]], while in [[Egypt]] and the [[Arab states of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf countries]] (such as the [[United Arab Emirates]], [[Kuwait]], and [[Oman]]), [[English language|English]] is the main supplementary language. The teaching of languages other than Arabic, mainly English, is compulsory in all schools in southern and central [[Iraq]] and at all levels, being a requirement for graduation from school. In the Kurdistan Region (northern Iraq), the [[Palestinian Authority]], [[Saudi Arabia]], [[Syria]], and [[Yemen]], English is compulsory at all schools and all levels.{{citation needed|date=November 2009}} In these countries, English and other foreign languages tend to be offered as subjects only in certain, wealthier schools. While [[Hebrew]] is the national language of [[Israel]], English or Arabic are compulsory in elementary schools.
 
==== Egypt ====
As Egypt's economy depends mainly on tourism, many modern languages are taught and spoken there. All children learn [[Arabic]] in school, but English is also mandatory beginning with the first grade (6 years of age). Another language is mandatory for the last two years of high school (17–18 years); French and German are the most commonly learned. There are also schools that specialize in particular languages. For instance, in [[French language|French]] schools in [[Egypt]] students learn [[Arabic]], [[French language|French]] and then [[English language|English]] later on. [[German language|German]] schools in [[Egypt]] students learn [[Arabic]], [[German language|German]] and then [[English language|English]] and probably some basic [[French language|French]] as well.
 
=== European Union ===
In all [[European Union]] school systems, it is mandatory to study at least one foreign language at some stage during the school career; there is a tendency for this to start earlier, even in the first year of primary school. Additional languages can be chosen as an optional subject. The most common foreign language chosen is increasingly English (the most popular first foreign language in 23 of the 25 [[member states of the European Union]] which do not have English as the language of instruction), followed by French and German. Some 90% of pupils learn English as a foreign language, whether the choice of language is obligatory or parental.<ref>{{cite book |title=Key Data on teaching languages at school in Europe – 2005 edition: published by the Eurydice Network on behalf of the European Commission {{pipe}} See in particular Figure C7 |year= 2005 |isbn= 92-894-8681-3 |url=http://www.eurydice.org/portal/page/portal/Eurydice/showPresentation?pubid=049EN}}</ref> Teaching is largely provided by generalist teachers in primary school and by specialists in middle and secondary schools. An exception to this is Ireland, where [[Irish Gaelic]] and English are the only mandatory languages, although the majority of students also study a modern language as it may be compulsory to do so at second level.
 
=== United Kingdom ===
All children of the United Kingdom learn English at school. In [[Wales]], all children at English language medium state schools learn [[Welsh language|Welsh]] as a second language until the age of 16, which is mainly taught through the medium of English. [[Welsh medium education|Welsh language schools]] teach mainly through the medium of Welsh.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/schoolgate/aboutschool/content/inwelsh.shtml |title=BBC Cymru &#124; Wales – The School Gate – About School – Education in Welsh |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |access-date=2012-06-11}}</ref>
 
In addition, ''Modern Foreign Languages'' is a compulsory component in the state education system. At least one language is studied until the end of [[Key Stage 3]]. Particular schools may require younger students to study additional languages, and they may be given the option to continue these. Schools are required to teach a program of languages according to local and national guidelines. From 2010, all [[primary school]] pupils in [[Key Stage 2]] (aged 7 – 11) will be entitled to some teaching of a modern foreign language. [[English language learning and teaching|English is taught]] to [[immigrant]] adults and youths as necessary.
 
Modern languages are studied in universities and colleges and various degrees are awarded in modern languages.<ref>''The Examination Statutes: statt. univ. Oxon. tit. VI and parts of other statutes; olim Excerpta e statutis universitatis Oxoniensis: titulus XIV, de vestitu et habitu scholastico; titulus XV, de moribus conformandis; titulus XXIII, of women students'' Oxford: Clarendon Press; pp. 198-211 "The subjects of examination in the Honour School of Modern Languages shall be the French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian languages together with such other Modern European language or languages as shall have been added to this list in the manner hereinafter provided".</ref> The [[Modern Humanities Research Association]] was founded at Cambridge in 1918: after an early change of name to MHRA in 1918, the unincorporated charity became an incorporated company with the same name on 2 October 1997. Its declared aim is to encourage and promote advanced study and research in the field of the modern [[humanities]], which include the modern and medieval European languages, literatures and cultures.
 
=== United States ===
Although there is no official language of the United States,<ref>{{cite web|title=Constitutional Topic: Official Language|url=http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_lang.html|publisher=U.S. Constitution dot net|access-date=3 September 2011}}</ref> children learn [[American English]] as part of their institutional education. As the responsibility of K-12 education sits not with the U.S. Department of Education but with each individual state's State Education Agency (State Department of Education),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov/Programs/EROD/org_list.cfm?category_ID=SEA |title=Education Resource Organizations Directory (EROD) |publisher=Wdcrobcolp01.ed.gov |access-date=2012-06-11}}</ref> some public [[school district]]s containing large numbers of English language learners (ELLs, notably students who speak [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], and [[Navajo language|Navajo]]) offer [[bilingual education]]. This two-way setting uses the student's native language as well as English to impart curriculum, but the National Association for Bilingual Education notes it has been a controversial—and sometimes political—topic for a portion of citizens who advocate for English-only education.<ref>{{cite web|title=What Is Bilingual Education?|url=http://www.nabe.org/bilingualed.html|publisher=National Association for Bilingual Education|access-date=3 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719155610/http://www.nabe.org/bilingualed.html|archive-date=19 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The U.S. also hosts many English as a Second Language (ESL) programs for people who have not learned English in school (most frequently immigrants to the U.S.).
 
As the global world economy makes knowledge of a world language a valuable work skill, a growing number of [[Elementary school|elementary]] and [[middle school]] school districts now offer modern language courses, usually on an optional basis. Students are increasingly advised (and at times required) to study a foreign language in [[high school]], and more frequently at the [[college]] or [[university]] level. In 2006, "the most commonly studied foreign language[s] in the U.S., determined by the number of students enrolled in foreign language classes in colleges and universities" were, in order of popularity: [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[French language|French]], [[German language|German]], [[American Sign Language]], [[Italian language|Italian]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], [[Latin language|Latin]], [[Russian language|Russian]], and [[Arabic language|Arabic]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0905275.html |title=Most Studied Foreign Languages in the U.S. — |publisher=Infoplease.com |access-date=2012-06-11}}</ref>
 
=== Venezuela ===
All children learn [[Spanish language|Spanish]] at school, but begin to learn English at the age of six in pre-school. In some other schools, like San Jose de Tarbes in [[Caracas]], children begin to learn [[French language|French]] and [[English language|English]] when they are promoted from pre-school to middle school. And because of the growing number of Chinese immigrants, in certain areas of the country, there are also small schools for learning [[Chinese language|Chinese]] starting at the age of eight.
 
== Auxiliary languages ==
Line 55 ⟶ 16:
*[[Endangered language]]
*[[List of languages by total number of speakers]]
 
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Authority control}}