Advocating for early/often foreign language instruction

Two articles on the subject:

1. An article in the Minnesota Daily discusses second languages in general. The following is an excerpt from that article:

The 21st century has focused intensely on the recognition and development of the human mind. Psychologists have studied the different functions of the brain and have identified ways to strengthen acute awareness and cognitive thinking. One way to do this, report linguistic researchers at Cornell University, is to learn another language at a young age. In the face of distraction, those who have learned another language are able to pursue their cognitive goals faster and easier. Children who are schooled in another language are able to focus their attention to a particular subject despite outside provocations better than those who are not proficient in a second language. This is a huge advantage, especially in a world where instant entertainment is dominant among younger generations.

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2. An article from the Chicago Tribune discusses how Foreign language skills translate in career. The following is an excerpt from that article:

The American economy relies on people of different nations and cultures interconnected by telephone, satellites and computers, so more corporations are looking to add multilingual employees to their ranks. For job seekers eager to separate themselves from the crowd of candidates in a specific field, picking up a second language can be just the thing to propel you to the front of the pack...

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