ACTION ALERT! Time sensitive!
⇒Support the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Act
JNCL-NCLIS advocates have made the Paul Simon Act one of their top priorities in the 116th Congress, and we are excited that the Simon Act has once again been introduced with bipartisan support in both chambers of the U.S. Congress. The House Education and Labor Committee is expected to release their draft legislation to reauthorize the Higher Education Act in the coming weeks, so now is the time to focus their attention on the importance of international education and study abroad.To build support for study abroad and the Simon Act, NAFSA and JNCL-NCLIS are asking supporters to take three quick actions:
1. Thank Reps. Bustos and Katko for introducing the bill on social media. Sample Tweet: Thank you @RepCheri, @RepJohnKatko for reintroducing the #SimonBill. #StudyAbroad provides students with the global skills, knowledge, & experiences necessary to compete in today’s global workforce. www.nafsa.org/simon
3.Share the Connecting Our World Link to your networks to ask your members and colleagues to join you in sending an email to their Representative in support of the Simon Act. https://cqrcengage.com/connectingourworld/study-abroad
https://www.languagepolicy.org/post/paul-simon-study-abroad-act-introduced-in-the-house-of-representatives
AND..
⇒Contact your representatives in support of the WLARA act (World Language Awareness and Readiness Act), in support of quality world language programs in elementary and secondary schools. Ask your representative to join the bipartisan effort to co-sponsor this bill and ask your senators to consider a similar bill in the Senate.
Read more about the bill here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19e-vQhrjA5S483P5aYHdYNN4dwB7RLr-8_C7SubXI1w/edit?usp=sharing
CONTACT POLICY MAKERS!
US Senate
https://www.senate.gov/states/WI/intro.htm
US House of Representatives
https://www.house.gov/representatives/#state_wi
Wisconsin State Senate
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2015/legislators/senate
Wisconsin State Assembly
https://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/
Language Advocacy Day, Feb. 14, 2019
https://languagepolicy.org/teachers-business-owners-storm-capitol-hill-to-advocacy-multilingualism/
(See press release to read on)
STAY INFORMED!
https://www.actfl.org/advocacy
http://www.csctfl.org/committees/advocacy/index.html
https://www.waflt.org/public-relations/pr-resources/
http://www.languagepolicy.org/
TAKE ACTION!
Email and phone calls count! Sign up for the JNCL-NCLIS email newsletter to receive language news, policy updates, and language advocacy action alerts. https://languagepolicy.org/
CONTACT POLICY MAKERS!
US Senate
https://www.senate.gov/states/WI/intro.htm
US House of Representatives
https://www.house.gov/representatives/#state_wi
Wisconsin State Senate
https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2015/legislators/senate
Wisconsin State Assembly
https://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/
WE ARE ALL ADVOCATES!
“A world language education beginning at the elementary level is a civil right, and to deny a child access to world languages is to deny them access to a world class education and a world where global collaboration is the key for combating hunger, disease, climate change, terrorism, and economic instability. We are all advocates.”
Dr. Edward M Zarrow, 2016 ACTFL National Teacher of the Year
“I’d ask that we consider all the countless small actions we can take as advocates to be just as important as the big actions we’re taking right here [at Language Advocacy Day]. And I’d like to invite all of us to adopt an ongoing posture of language advocate–and through constant, ongoing actions as often as possible, I hope we move from language advocates to seeing ourselves as language activists.” -Dr. Jay Ketner (Wayside Publishing) at Language Advocacy Day 2019
Bridging America’s Language Gap: A Call to Action–https://www.amacad.org/content.aspx?d=43111
Why Learn Languages?
- To connect across cultural, political, and economic borders
- To meet the challenges in a global and connected society
- To communicate in a culturally appropriate manner with people from around the world
- To possess language and cultural understanding to be productive members of our diverse communities
NEW!
Important new initiatives and reports provide data and research to support your advocacy efforts:
The Wisconsin Language Roadmap has been published!
See the report here: The Wisconsin Language Roadmap and then share the strategic goals and recommendations that will enhance the economic competitiveness and vitality of the state by preparing all Wisconsin students to be workforce-, community- and world-ready through language, intercultural and global learning.
In March, 2017, ACTFL launched its national language proficiency awareness and advocacy campaign and website, Lead with Languages. This multi-year campaign aims to build awareness about the increased demand for language skills and supports the growth of learners who are competent in other languages and cultures. Check out its website, follow @LeadWLanguages on Twitter or send out your own #leadwithlanguages tweets, or download a badge and put it in your email signature, LinkedIn, or wherever you see fit.
America’s Languages: Investing in Language Education for the 21st Century. In 2014, a bipartisan group of members of Congress asked the American Academy of Arts and Sciences to undertake a new study of the nation’s language education needs. Four members of the U.S. Senate, including Wisconsin’s Senator Tammy Baldwin, and four members of the House of Representatives requested that the commission answer the following questions:
- How does language learning influence economic growth, cultural diplomacy, the productivity of future generations, and the fulfillment of all Americans?
- What actions should the nation take to ensure excellence in all languages as well as international education and research, including how we may more effectively use current resources to advance language attainment?
This is the first national report
on language in over 40 years. Read the final report and share at #LangReport.
Not Lost in Translation: The Growing Importance of Foreign Language Skills in the U.S. Job Market released by the New American Economy, a nonprofit, bipartisan coalition of more than 500 mayors and business leaders who support immigration reform. Excerpt from this report: “Americans lose almost $2 billion each year because of language or cultural misunderstandings.”https://www.newamericaneconomy.org/
PR Posters:
Path to Proficiency poster to download and print: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1MElFoFw7-7iu76InVIerQJ_KqGf5sbKR
Brian Wopat’s Path to Proficiency Poster to download and print:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11QQ3195Z3esqX61XhrhEpGKmlnqdA2tg/view?usp=sharing
Discover Languages
Discover Languages is the national campaign to raise public awareness about the importance of language learning and understanding of cultures. Visit the Discover Languages website for the latest in helping Americans discover the world!
