Multilingualism in the U.S. - Do Americans need more than one language?

Multilingualism in the U.S. - Do Americans need more than one language?

Today, given the global economy and cultural diversity, the subject of multilingualism has become more important than ever in the scientific, political and public debate. At the same time, however, American schools at every level have reduced foreign-language programs. While more than half of the European population and an increasing number in other parts of the world can converse in a second language, only a quarter of all Americans report speaking a language other than English.

What is multilingualism worth and how can the long-term reality of linguistic diversity in the U.S. be promoted taking into account a variety of regional, national and supranational interests?

Join us for an insightful roundtable discussion celebrating this year's European Day of Languages. Different views on multilingualism will be presented and discussed from a U.S. and European perspective along their educational, economic social and cultural fault lines.

The panel will be moderated by author and buisness correspondent for The Economist, Robert Lane Greene, and will include Piet Van Avermaet, Head of Research Center for Diversity and Learning at University of Ghent, Fabrice Jaumont, Education Attaché to the Embassy of France, Christopher Harwood, Lecturer in Czech at Columbia University, Angelica Infante, Associate Commissioner for Bilingual Education and Foreign Language Studies at NYS Education Department, Kim Potowski, Professor of Spanish Linguistics at University of Illinois Chicago, and Werner Sollors, Professor of English at Harvard University.

5:30pm Roundtable discussion
7:30pm Reception with European specialisties

This event is presented in English.

This event is presented by the Goethe-Institut New York and co-sponsored by the Czech Center, Flanders House New York, French-Institute/Alliance Française and Instituto Cervantes.