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Americans must educate ourselves to be better citizens of
our world -- learning different languages and learning more about other
countries and cultures. Karen Hughes “I, Janet Napolitano, Governor of the State of Arizona,
do hereby proclaim 2005 as “The Year of Languages” throughout
the state of Arizona and urge all citizens to become familiar with the
services and benefits offered by language education programs in our communities.” Proclamation by the Governor of Arizona 8 July 2005 The United States should establish an international education
policy to foster mutual understanding among nations, promote a world free
of terrorism, further United States foreign policy and national security,
enhance United Sates leadership in the world and other purposes. Preamble to House Bill 100 of the 109th Session of the US Congress Internationalization has been defined as education for an interdependent world. And although the world has always experienced interdependencies, the scope, pace and magnitude of the transformation of the world over the past ten years has created new and exciting opportunities for international linkages and a charge to educators to produce internationally proficient professionals. International education encourages better relations among peoples of different cultures and encourages cross-cultural communication. In making institutions sensitive to other cultures, by globalizing the curriculum, students are given a window into their own richly diverse communities, and are able to critically evaluate today's connections of politics, commerce and civil society. … international education advances learning and scholarship,
builds respect among different peoples, and encourages constructive leadership
in a global community. Policy Statement of the NAFSA : Association of International Educators
"...Americans should make a serious effort to understand
other cultures and learn foreign languages. Our interaction with the rest
of the world must be a conversation, not a monologue … If our public
diplomacy efforts are to succeed, we cannot close ourselves off from the
world."
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Language and international education are clearly in
the public and national interest. Knowledge of other languages increases
intellectual abilities and provides a window of understanding to other
customs and cultures. Although once considered basic educational priorities,
language education and international studies lack adequate support and
recognition as essential components of today's school curriculum. Only
with language competence can Americans hope to conduct effective trade
policy, expand international trade, ensure the integrity of national defense,
enhance international communication, and develop a truly broad-based education
for all citizens. Policy Statement of the Joint National Committee for Languages & the National Council for Languages and International Studies "International education prepares American citizens to live, work, and compete in the global economy, and promotes tolerance and the reduction of conflict." "88% of American college students believe international
education will give them a competitive advantage in the workplace." Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Extract from the "Statement from Rod Paige", US Secretary of Education on International Education Week 2005 "In the same way, teaching our students about the world beyond the United States and encouraging them to travel abroad, allows them to find the common humanity that binds all world citizens. When we form meaningful relationships with our friends around the world, we can work together and cooperate with one another to eliminate ignorance, hatred, and violence. It takes courage and conviction to step into a culture that is different from ours, and to immerse ourselves in languages and traditions that are unfamiliar to us. "Now, 50 years after Brown v. Board of Education,
we have a different path ahead of us. In this new millennium, we truly
live in an interconnected world. Although we have made great strides forward,
we do our students a great disservice if we do not prepare them for a
global environment by encouraging them to study foreign languages and
cultures. Rod Paige
"No one who has lived through the second half of the
20th century could possibly be blind to the enormous impact of exchange
programs on the future of countries..."
US President Bill Clinton
"International exchanges are not a great tide to sweep
away all differences, but they will slowly wear away at the obstacles
to peace as surely as water wears away a hard stone."
US President George Bush
"There is a flickering spark in us all which, if struck
at just the right age...can light the rest of our lives, elevating our
ideals, deepening our tolerance and sharpening our appetite for knowledge
about the rest of the world. Educational and cultural exchanges...provide
a perfect opportunity for this precious spark to grow, making us more
sensitive and wiser international citizens through our careers."
US President Ronald Reagan
"Only by knowing and understanding each other's experiences
can we find common ground on which we can examine and resolve our differences….As
the world becomes more and more interdependent, such mutual understanding
becomes increasingly vital."
US President Jimmy Carter
"The spirit of seeking understanding through personal
contact with people of other nations and other cultures deserves the respect
and support of all."
US President Gerald Ford
"International education cannot be the work of one
country. It is the responsibility and promise of all nations. It calls
for free exchange and full collaboration….The knowledge of our citizens
is one treasure which grows only when it is shared."
US President Lyndon B Johnson
"[T]he exchange of students…should be vastly
expanded.…Information and education are powerful forces in support
of peace. Just as war begins in the minds of men, so does peace."
US President Dwight Eisenhower
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