New Approach to Foreign Language

We think you should do: • Offer incentives- young people today want money to do things and go places. If money was offered to students who took foreign language, they would more than likely want to take them. Another incentive could be a trip to the country the language is widely spoken in. I.E. going to France if you are taking French, or Japan if you speak Japanese. • Video Games- many teens play video games so that would be a good way to get teens interested. A video game that involved fun while learning would be a great way to grab the minds of teens in our country. • Songs- many teens listen to music of all sorts and if artists that they listened to would sing there songs in different languages then they would be able to learn that way. For instance like a popular song was sung in different languages then they could learn that language from the lyrics of the song.

Solution by FantasticThree posted on 11/17/2008 10:41 location: United States

The New World of Translation

• First You what you’re trying to say in your language plus your language for example screen would look like this To: 83742 Hello English-Chinese From: 83742 Ni hao Prn: NeeHow •Second the speech recognition system texts back and this is how it looks *Third it sounds out the word.

There are many options but this option is the best. To help the young people translate you could text in your language to a speech software and the speech software converts it to the language you need. Text and then send it back to you phone with a sound.

Solution by UNLEASHEDIDEAS posted on 11/17/2008 11:15 location: United States

The winning solution

Our solution is to create a myspace/facebook application that allows you to compete and challenge your freinds to games such as: checkers, poker, racing games, solitare, monopoly, etc... While playing these games you will have to answer questions on the language of your choice. For example, whenever you would like to make a move in checkers you would be asked a question about your chosen language. I think this would be a good solution because it uses one of the things people use most and allows them to communicate with others while doing it. As opposed to sitting by yourself and attempting to entertain yourself.

Solution by shaniquarulz1233 posted on 11/17/2008 13:02 location: United States

Video Games for the Foreign Illiterate

ATTN: Our Idea to help people want to learn languages:  To create video games for both genders (sexes) and all ages. o Males: Language learning versions of:  Rockband • Karaoke part: translate simple songs (row row row your boat) from different language to English for a certain amount of points, if you succeed, win prizes and unlock new songs. • Guitar part: when a word comes down the line (like a note in guitar hero) you have to push the right button telling the game what language that word is in. (example: if the word is Uno that is Spanish so you would push the red button). Get a certain amount of points to unlock new categories and win prizes. • Drum part: same as guitar, but with colors and letters. o Females: Language learning versions of:  Fashion designing • Talk to different fashion agencies in different parts of the world to help sell their ideas.(i.e. Paris and Milan) Simplistic communication is important and must be present to talk with fashion designers. The game will start with simple language usage but as the student’s skills progress, different extensions packs can be bought that increase the difficulty of the game. • The game will keep the fundamental aspects of modern day fashion games where girls will be able to make their own fashions and will complete all tasks given by that fashion agency. With this, they will learn communication skills and different languages.

Different Video Games to learn different Languages

Solution by orpheuscorp posted on 11/18/2008 09:54 location: United States

The Solution to the World of Teens

Myspace Ad- a fun and interesting way for teens to WANT to learn new languages. This can be a game, activity, etc. Interactive Language Courses- educational classes that gets teens asking for more. This means NO LECTURES ALLOWED! There can be activities, programs, etc. Visiting Countries- Allow students to visit the country in which the language they are learning originated so that they can learn both the language, and the culture. Television Series- In this short series, teens are dealing with the task of learning different languages in certain class while at school. Magizines- create an article in a teen magizine that describes how certain languages effect their lifestyle in a way that grabs their attention.

A way to get teenagers interactive and interested in learning new Languages from all around the Globe.

Solution by Ashley posted on 11/18/2008 11:08 location: United States

besterr solution

the solution that our group found the MOST proficient was to have a comedian to make certain jokes about the culture of the language the individual was learning, but at the same time, to teach the person the language. Not only will the person be learning, they will remember it more because it made them laugh.

Solution by dontsayANYTHING posted on 11/18/2008 11:22 location: United States

Learning a New Language

We agreed that since majority of teens like watching television, that T.V. shows would be a good way to learn foriegn languages. If shows would be acted out in different lanuages like french, spanish, japenese, etc. and had english subtitles, teens could make the connection between the two lanuages. Teens could even just watch their favorite movies in different languages (espically considering most movies have different language selections). This could be an effective way to learn a new language and get teens interested.

We decided that the best way to learn a new language and get teens interested in speaking foreign languages would be with television shows.

Solution by bestgroupever posted on 11/18/2008 13:46 location: United States

GLOOW

We think that a good solution to this problem would be to open an afterschool program, named GLOOW (Global Learning Opening Opportunities for the World). The motto of GLOOW is "Opening global opportunities for our youth, one mind at a time." GLOOW is an afterschool program that is centered around the language that you are trying to get the kids to learn. Say you want the children to learn French, you could incorporate French into everything in the program. For instence you could have some posters in all French, so that they could learn to read French, and some in French and English, so that they could learn to translate. You could incorporate the language into fun games, sports, and activities. To encourage them to excel in learning the language you can offer them incentives, like computers, iPods, or other cool gadgets that kids are interested in. For special cases, depending on funding, you could offer students a chance to take a trip to the country that the language originated in, so they could learn more and become more fluent in it.

Solution by CriticalThinkers posted on 11/18/2008 14:08 location: United States

Solution

To learn new languages students should be allowed to study abroad. It is a big part of the college experience that we need to have. It would help us learn to apply the languages in everyday life. Another way to help us learn languages would be to have teachers who have spoken it their entire life. They could teach us the country's way of life and traditions.

Solution by Iomilk posted on 11/19/2008 08:47 location: United States

The answer is right under out nose.

When our group thought about learning a language, we thought of applying the language and experiencing the languages culture over studying out of a book. Young adults (the ones who strive to do well) are growing bored of standard curriculum, and are looking for new ways to make sense of the information being taught or learned. So, what are some new ways to learn a new language? After discussing this, my group and came to the conclusion that the best “new” way to learn a new language would be to travel to the languages birth country, and live this natives for the length of the course. Since there are far too many students in each class, not every student could go, which is beside the point. We find it safe to say that the best, newest way to learn a language is impossible and improbable. So, instead of trying to a new crazy way to learn a language, our group thought that why don’t we just improve the way the language to presented? Have a native teacher, have everyday talking scenarios, improve books so kids can connect the language to their lives, even though our “new” ways of learning the language isn’t new, it is beyond the point. Why create something new when we can just improve on what we have? The only reason kids are less interested in new languages is because they barely use them, even barely in class or in jobs. We need to make it so kids and young adults will have to use the language once in a while. No kids will want to be left out if everyone is speaking different languages.

Solution by OrionsBelt2008 posted on 11/19/2008 08:53 location: United States

A New Way To Teach Language

If I were trying to find a way to get young people interested in a language, I would have my Latin teacher make an instructional video. This video would either be intended to be watched by students themselves, or used as a guide for other foreign language teachers. Our Latin teacher has interesting, fun and most importantly EFFECTIVE teaching methods. We play games, do group activities, and projects that require creativity and thought. Latin isn’t so much of a required class as it is an entertaining learning experience. With some good marketing; maybe some adds and testimonials, young people all over would be learning languages via the Ganger way! Another possible way to get young adults interested in learning a new language (and becoming globally competitive) would be to offer incentives. The teachers could offer a trip to a place that the language is mainly spoken to the top 10 students in the class. That way the students would become competitive and really put effort into learning the language.

Solution by amazingcup posted on 11/19/2008 09:07 location: United States

International Social Network

The Internet connects people all over the world. Still, at times the language barrier keeps people from connecting with others like them. We will work to solve this problem through a social network that gives you the chance to learn another language as you chat and make new friends. Like all other social networks users can create their profile and start looking for new friends. What if someone who only speaks Mandarin Chinese wants to chat with someone who only speaks English? A translating application in IM can help solve this problem. They enter into a private Instant Messaging page, then each user selects his/her own language from the ‘Translate From’ drop down menu, and then enters the other’s language into the ‘Translate To’ drop down menu. As they chat their words will be translated into the other’s language and shows up as both languages in the IM. Exposure to the other language can help teens become more interested in learning the language. Other features that would introduce users to other languages might be: a word of the day shown in multiple languages, daily challenges to learn words in other languages for gaming points. The site games could incorporate the use of other player’s native tongue and points earned in daily challenges to make learning another language fun. So you see this social network with a translating chat application help users world wide begin to break down language barriers. Besides, what teen doesn’t like a little social networking and Instant Messaging?

An international social network with games, IM, apps and more that give users exposure to languages and makes learning the language fun!

Solution by The_Scooby_Gang posted on 11/19/2008 09:26 location: United States

Virtual Tour

One new way that you can learn a language is by taking a “Virtual Tour” of the area where the language is spoken. Basically, you will have a login password and a screen name, and you will go to a website. You will login in, and then you will select a continent in which the language is spoken. Then a list of languages will appear and you will select your desired language. After your language is selected a screen will appear which shows you all of the different cities where that specific language is spoken. You will select that city in which you will be taking the tour of. The tour will consist of basic terms that are spoken by everyone on a day to day basis. Then after that you will be appointed to a “teacher.” Your teacher will be a person who is very fluent in the language of your choice, and is currently living in the desired city. You will be able to interact with the person whenever you need to, being that they are available. To sum everything up it is a quick, cheap and very helpful way to learn a new language with out ever leaving your home.

Solution by BungieMan posted on 11/19/2008 10:26 location: United States

PenPal Networking

A social networking website that is international. You will be setup with three foreign penpals of your age. They will all be from different countries where separate languages are spoken. For each country that you are writing to there will be a supplied vocabulary so you can write to your penpal in their language. So if American Johnny was writing to Chinese Will, he would be able to use Chinese symbols and Will would be able to write in English. With every letter written the supplied vocabulary will grow so you can build on your knowledge and have more in depth conversations with your penpal. Also for every letter written you gain 25cents in your online travel fund. So as you write you get a fund so that one day you may visit your penpals. This will help motivate young writers. There will be character counts along with othere letter specifications to make sure the site is not being robbed by people sending junk letters to gain money. Funds gained will be supervised to make sure they are being spent strictly on travel. There could be 'leader boards' saying who has gained the most funds.

Solution by SmokinVulcan posted on 11/19/2008 10:31 location: United States

Language Through People

People learn better and are more willing to participate in something fun than in a rigid and impersonal course. This can mean anything from greeting each other in a second language to having a themed lunch at school to having a "no english day" ever week or month. Organize trips to places where other languages are spoken, and work language activities into the fundraising for such a trip. Exposure to popular culture from other areas also encourages people to get into another language, and can make the entire language learning experience a lot more fun. For example, having a spanish movie night or a school dance featuring latin music.

Solution by Gjexm posted on 11/19/2008 11:22 location: United States

Languages of the World

One way that you can learn languages and have fun doing it, you can learn languages such as English, Portugese, Spanish, Arabic, German, and French. The game is called Languages of the World. The way to play the game is You pick your color and roll the die. Depending upon how many you move you pick the coordinating color of language. Another player picks a card from one of the langauage piles and reads the word. You must guess what that word means. If you get it right, you stay put. If you get it wrong, then you go back to the beginning or to where you were before.

Solution by sharold posted on 11/20/2008 08:53 location: United States

Highschool Language Involvment

It would be better if children got a taste of the languages from our world in elementary school. If once a year the high schools came and did a workshop with activities along with them, children would become more interested and might know what languages they would like to learn in high school and middle school.

Solution by CeresPride posted on 11/20/2008 10:48 location: United States

Ways to learn a new language

internet courses, going to another country, pen pals, movies with subtitles in English movie but in another language, enlisting in army, multi racial neighborhoods, video games, different languages in songs, Rosetta Stone, crediting those who learn a different language, food, mission workers, multi cultural relationship, "reality check" of different people from different countries

Rather than doing one specific solution, we came up with a various amount of ways for the people to learn a language:

Solution by CRAPSACK posted on 11/20/2008 11:13 location: United States

Bettering What is Already There

I believe that each person should have a general understanding of each language. The world is a very diverse place and I feel that there should be a common bond for each person. I do not feel that a universal language is the right way to fix anything, I do, however, feel that each person should be able to speak enough of the main languages to be able to communicate with another. My solution would be a pretty easy change for the school systems. As soon as primary school, teachers would incorporate foreign languages into the classroom lessons and assignments. Instead of writing a paper in English, have the person write it in Spanish. This would, of course, involve an education in that language. For a transition for the teachers, I feel that a training session could be done over the summer or breaks. A teacher would choose the subject in which they would be interested in learning, or already has experience in. They would then be better trained in that language and taught some creative ways to implement the language into the course. After the initial start of this program, funding would only need to be done for a few years. After teachers are trained and students begin learning, further training would not be necessary when the students would begin becoming the teachers. They would already have the knowledge. Why create a totally new program when it would be easier to just incorporate foreign language into the educational system we all have.

Starting to incorporate foreign languages into an already existent curriculum. Take assignments that are given to each grade level, starting as soon as preschool, and add a foreign language aspect to them.

Solution by adamjones87 posted on 12/08/2008 19:06 location: United States