YOU SPEAK WHAT?

Americans attitudes towards other languages.

LenkListening & Speaking 4CInstructor: Greg DavisMarch 1, 2001

YOU SPEAK WHAT?

– Can you speak any other languages?

Purpose: To inform the audience how

Americans think about other languages.

Main points.

1. Reasons why American learn second languages. 2. Americans opinions for other languages. 3. How Americans learn the languages.

Able to speak other languages

2

1

2

5

0

2

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Yes No Little

Male

Female

Know 2nd language10s

27%

20s

37%

30s

18%

40s

18%

10s

20s

30s

40s

Reasons to learn / benefits

- It’s very important / interesting- To communicate with others- To learn more about other cultures /

people

American attitudes

Top three languages that are most important

1. Spanish2. Japanese 3. French

Important lang.

10s20s 30s

40s

10s

20s 30s

40s

10s

20s30s

40s

10s

20s

30s

40s

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

10s 20s 30s 40s

others

Japaneese

French

Spanish

• Top hit languages: Spanish / Japanese / French

• most difficult to learn: Chinese / Japanese

• easiest to learn: Spanish / French / Italian

Top hit lang.

Spanish41%

Japaneese25%

French17%

others17%

Spanish Japaneese French others

• (Opitional)• Why don’t Americans learn other languages?

– English is enough – No need if they live in US.– No other important languages are important than English– No times

Resources to learn

class

67%

family

25%

oneself

8%

How they learn the languages

- Take class- Family / friends- themselves

Conclusion:English is not the only language

spoken in the world, so nowadays Americans want to know more languages to be able to communicate with people all over the world, learn more about other cultures and people, and visit everywhere in this world.

– The more you know other languages, the more you can get the benefits.

»QUESTIONS?

Topic Two• Details about this topic• Supporting information and

examples• How it relates to your audience

Topic Three• Details about this topic• Supporting information and

examples• How it relates to your audience

Real Life• Give an example or real life

anecdote• Sympathize with the audience’s

situation if appropriate

What This Means• Add a strong statement that

summarizes how you feel or think about this topic

• Summarize key points you want your audience to remember

Next Steps • Summarize any actions required of

your audience• Summarize any follow up action

items required of you