Political Quotes

“terrorist events have brought this point to light, dramatically illustrating how the security of the United States is dependent upon its strength in the area of foreign language competency. If the United States is truly committed to continuing as the leader in the global economic community, as well as in the on-going fight against terrorism dictated by the global war on terrorism, some very serious commitments will have to be made in support of language study. Our history, and particularly our recent history, has repeatedly illustrated the consequences of not having adequate foreign language expertise available in times of crisis. In 1988 the satellite communications language training activities (SCOLA) became the first broad-scale provider of authentic foreign television and today provides this resource from 75 countries. From the beginning the Federal Government has recognized the importance of authentic foreign programming as a tool to help teach foreign languages. By watching and listening, students are able to actually experience the foreign culture and develop their language skills in the native real-life environment. This programming is also a vital intelligence resource since it provides significant insight into the internal happenings of the various countries.…”