How does language learning support academic achievement?

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Language learning correlates with higher academic achievement on standardized test measures.

Language learning is beneficial to both monolingual English and English language learners in bilingual and two-
way immersion programs.

Language learning is beneficial in the development of students’ reading abilities.

There is evidence that language learners transfer skills from one language to another.

There is a correlation between second language learning and increased linguistic awareness.

There is a correlation between language learning and students’ ability to hypothesize in science.

Language learning can benefit all students.

There is a correlation between young children’s second language development and the development of print
awareness.

Heritage learners who use their language skills to interpret and translate for family members experience higher
academic performance and greater self-efficacy.

There is a correlation between language study and higher scores on the SAT and ACT Tests.

There is a correlation between high school foreign language study and higher academic performance at the
college level.

How does language learning provide cognitive benefits to students?

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There is evidence that early language learning improves cognitive abilities.

There is evidence bilingualism correlates with increased cognitive development and abilities.

There is a correlation between bilingualism and the offset of age-related cognitive losses.

There is a correlation between bilingualism and attentional control on cognitive tasks.

There is a correlation between bilingualism and intelligence.

There is a correlation between bilingualism and metalinguistic skills.

There is a correlation between bilingualism and memory skills.

There is a correlation between bilingualism and problem solving ability.

There is a correlation between bilingualism and improved verbal and spatial abilities.

Find out more about the benefits of language learning by investigating these resources.
Find out more about the benefits of bilingualism by investigating these reviews of the literature.

How does language learning affect attitudes and beliefs about language learning and about other
cultures?

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Research suggests that language learners develop a more positive attitude toward the target language and/or
the speakers of that language.

A good place for Koreans to learn English?

Seung   Friday, March 18, 2005, 07:19 GMT

English Mecca in the South China Sea

Koreans are flocking to the Philippines for their first steps at learning English and living
abroad

The Philippines is in the heart of Southeast Asia and English is its second language. For
Koreans it is one of the best countries to study English, especially for the beginners. They
consider this country as a first step to learn and use English, as well as building the
confidence they need before going to Canada, New Zealand, Australia or Ireland.

"We study first in the Philippines, and then we either go to Canada or New Zealand or any
other country where English is the mother tongue," said Park Jong Wok, 27, from the Korean
city of Busan. "In my case, I went to Canada after studying in the Philippines for six months
because I wanted to use what I learned."

Park had several one-on-one classes at a language institute in Quezon City, on the outskirts
of Manila. "It helped me to speak a lot and gave me a lot of confidence to speak English," he
said.

For several years now, language institutes have been mushrooming in many places in the
Philippines, even the countryside. For Koreans, having a one-on-one class is the best way to
study English. A vast number of these English institutes are widely recognized within the
industry to be owned by Koreans. They operate their businesses by setting up "dummy"
companies with a Filipino "paper owner."

In a one-on-one class, the student spends an hour with his or her teacher using a
conversational type of book. It's "a no-holds-barred" type of class. The student and teacher
can talk about any thing under the sun. Moreover, the student can have as many such
classes as he or she wants, and add another kind of class.

For example, at CNNS (Communicate Near Native Speakers) English Language Institute, a
student can have at least two one-on-one classes and he or she can also register for a group
class, discussion class or listening class and a screening class for a higher level.

According to the Philippines Department of Tourism, 93.5 percent of Filipinos can speak
English well. English is used as a medium of instruction in schools and universities and is
widely spoken in business transactions and casual conversations.

"Korean students choose the Philippines because it's near Korea and cheap. Aside from that,
I think this is the only place that offers a one-on-one type of class," explained Nita Tallod, a
former academic supervisor at one institute in the Philippines, who now works in Osan,
Korea.

She told OhmyNews that most of the students have very little background in English when
they first arrive in the Philippines.
"They will study the basics for several months and once they have learned those, they want
to challenge their ability in English in the real environment where people speak English," she
said.

Lee Jae Kyu, 27, who studied English in the Philippines for six months said, "I'm not afraid of
foreigners any more, in fact for us Koreans, it's hard to overcome this fear." He added that
once such fears are overcome, the learner is ready to go on to the next step. He said
studying in the Philippines helped him a lot.

"I can recommend the Philippines to students to study English," Lee said. "I like the way
they teach us, especially the one-on-one classes. In our class we can have the whole time to
speak English and no one can interrupt us," he added.

Ironically, the teachers in the Philippines are considered good English instructors and yet
they are taken for granted. Most of the language institutes do not offer job security, nor
benefits for their teachers.

"We are tired of teaching students, especially the beginners, and we can't make both ends
meet," said one teacher, who doesn't want to be identified. "We make them good speakers
and better people, but we are left demoralized in our country."

Lee admitted that his Filipino teachers are good at what they do, but said, "I think some
Koreans won't agree, because they blindly believe that native speakers are better than
Filipinos."

He added that most Koreans have a prejudice against Filipinos because they judge Korea to
be a better nation. In a monoculture like Korea, Koreans are proud of their ethnically
homogeneous society.

"I'd like to say that once you open your heart to them, (the teachers) will do their best to
help you not only as a student, but to become a better person," said student Jung Eui Tae,
26. "They will become your real friends."

Every day there are Koreans who begin plans to study abroad to conquer English, either in
the Philippines or another country.

"I'm going to the Philippines next month," Oh Jin Hwan, 27, said. "I like their program -- the
one-on-one classes and it's cheap as well." He has worked hard to earn money for his plan to
study English.

For Koreans, their economy work style demands people to move at jet-like speeds. They
need to always be on the ball. Competition is part of their daily life.

Oh doesn't want to be left behind among the approximately 600 million people who speak
English in the world, as the 2004 World Book Encyclopedia has estimated. He is afraid to be
part of the millions of young men and women who are unemployed.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) has
reported, unemployment rates are generally higher for the more educated than those who
are less educated in most developing countries of the region. Unemployment is mainly an
urban phenomenon.

"I want to study English in the Philippines to have a good job in the future," Oh said.

Like the others, he said he believed that he would not only develop his English skills, but
other important things like living in, and learning about, a different country.

Most students who have studied abroad believe that it would be a self-transforming
experience, a quantum leap in their intellectual and social development.

"My thinking about myself and my life has changed after studying in the Philippines,"
explained Jung. "The people are very nice, unlike some of the Koreans who are selfish."
"I'd like to live there," he concluded.