ERIC Number: ED353793
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1992-Mar
Pages: 23
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Dismantling Self-Imposed Trade Barriers Revisited: The Role of Language Development Ten Years Later.
Guy, Bonnie S.
A review of literature, an update of a similar 1982 study, investigated attitudes and actions of United States high school and college students and within the business community concerning the need for language study and cross-cultural competence to promote competitiveness in international trade. Progress is seen as mixed: overall, achievements in increasing foreign language competence and cross-cultural awareness are inadequate. Americans' geographic literacy has improved little. Businesses rank foreign language skills among the least important hiring criteria. Workers see language skills as irrelevant in corporate reward systems and provide workers with little language or cross-cultural training. However, some encouraging changes in the educational infrastructure, and to some extent in the corporate environment, are found. International studies are receiving more attention at the high school and college levels, although they remain largely Eurocentric. Language training among businesspeople is increasing slowly. Specific programs at the levels of elementary, secondary, higher, and continuing education illustrate movement in a positive direction. Further development of these efforts and others is recommended. A 27-item bibliography is included. (MSE)
Descriptors: Attitude Change, Business Administration Education, College Students, Continuing Education, Cross Cultural Studies, Cultural Awareness, Educational Attitudes, Educational Needs, Educational Trends, Elementary Secondary Education, Followup Studies, High School Students, High Schools, Higher Education, Industry, International Trade, Language Attitudes, Language Proficiency, Second Language Learning, Student Attitudes, Surveys, Trend Analysis
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Eastern Michigan Conference on Languages and Communication for World Business and the Professions (11th, Ypsilanti, MI, March 26-28, 1992).