Foreign Language is Indispensable | Jillian Axelrod | TEDxUpperDublinED

American students are rarely proficient in a second language, few even study one at all-- and the proportion that do continues to drop over time, displaced by math and science. Yet, foreign language proficiency is an excellent predictor of academic success, and achievement in the workforce and beyond. Jillian Axelrod asks us why we don't study language, and how we can start.
Jillian Axelrod is interested in learning all about learning. Coming from a small Jewish school, she spent four years at Upper Dublin delving into language, writing, and music. After finishing her senior year at UDHS, she is beginning a project to explore personalized and project-based education, and to examine how different types of instruction can impact students, teachers, and communities. Next year, she will be continuing in the Joint Program at the Jewish Theological Seminary at Columbia University.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@josemadrigal4622]

Yes!! I speak 3 and learning 2 more. Languages connect us to other people

[@chetansingh8234]

My trick is to talk yourself or anyone in your brain in language you want to learn.

[@eduardomusic8560]

Good video, very interesting the personal experience that she has shared. I don't know what is her native country. Nowadays, for the last 12 years I'm learning and practicing English. Most of the time, I have performed on my own. She has more technological tools and recourses to improve her Spanish level. Greetings from Sonora, México 🇲🇽.

[@ArthursHD]

In my school in Latvia way to teach was very similar. That is why I didn't learn Russian. I think it is more to do with attitude, because I learned English more outside of school than in classroom and I thought that it will be useful back than. With apps like Duolingo it's way faster to learn new language than in system like that back in school.

[@dmitrythemarksman7867]

I am Russian, and you made me upset

[@JameBlack]

You didn't learn Russian because you are smart enough.

[@Donello]

I met native speakers of Latvian who spoke fluent Russian. Unfortunately, I had no time to have in-depth conversations with them and find out how they had learned it, which methods they used.

[@Donello]

@@JameBlack Half the population of Latvia speaks Russian and hi did NOT learn Russian is because he was smart enough? I don't get it.

[@RandomDude_tw_6]

I agree!

[@hassanmouahhidi703]

amaizing i am so greatful to Tedx

[@SpeakWritePlayinEnglish]

Learning languages help connect people.

[@KristinaUSA-x5n]

I am rusty in my German and Russian and I have a B.A. in Foreign Languages (German/Russian) and B.A. in Biology and M.S. in Biology (Microbiology) and did not get to use my degrees effectively and lost practice. I also had a head injury that affected my language ability. I still understand quite a bit. It is scary how bad Americans are at basic English grammar.

[@chetansingh8234]

Ooh you poor baby . Meet with an accident that's why you didn't practice the languages. You poor poor baby. One time when I was a baby, I fall down from bed so that's why I was getting bad grades in my study.

[@mickandbobby]

It's not educators you need to convince. It's the politicians and parents who focus on English-only education. It's the politicians who write education budgets focusing on English and math, to the detriment of everything else.

[@spikeitfool1]

The 18 percent of Americans who maintained that they spoke another language proficiently is incredibly high unless one includes those raised speaking another or other languages at home. I think the number of Americans who learn a foreign language well outside of the home is only like 6-8 percent.

[@Kn1ght3d]

I calculated it from 7% that’s still 23,240,000

[@Kn1ght3d]

Which a decent amount imo

[@yoavrahamimvaradi7648]

I love her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@victorlee5084]

CASI EN SUS PLATICAS NO HAY INTERACCIÓN CON EL PUBLICO,PARECE UNA CLASE DE PREPARATORIA CON MEMORIZACIÓN.

[@jakub.kubicek]

She can't even pronounce Spanish properly, but the idea is really great and true, from my own experience.

[@Donello]

Strong American accent, yes. Taking phonology lessons wouldn't hurt. The grammar and vocabulary are OK, though.

[@thuaphi]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@IsmailIsmail-on3pb]

I can't stop watching her very deeply. She's so gorgeous...

[@chetansingh8234]

Does anyone know Hindi???? I know Hindi and English. See, I am bilingual.

[@lightscameras4166]

Hello ji! I am from Pakistan but I live in Texas. My grandparents were from Uttar Pradesh. Urdu is my first language. :)

[@wildierichter5030]

I liked the message but she really didnt give off an appealing vibe. The whole overly passionate thing made all of my listening skills wanna run away and hide. She kinda stuck her head out a bit too much too lol. Like I'm not even in the room with her and I'm like, "woaah okay, first off, personal space, and tone it down a notch. Mmmkay? Thanks" But overall, I believe she is very correct and the message should be implemented into society. I'm not trying to be rude, she must have a lot of courage to express her beliefs on stage. So I guess this is more along the lines of constructive criticism

[@sweiland75]

Americans do that.

[@Henry-teach-Chinese-in-jokes]

Hi, I’m Henry Guo. I’ve been spending more than 100,000 hours studying English humor and culture and spending more than 100,000 hours studying Chinese humor and culture. I’m teaching Chinese language in jokes. Hope you can help me promote the funny way of teaching Chinese.

[@chetansingh8234]

Neevu hegidheera??

[@gregoryglavinovich9259]

Hebrew ?? in the morning...He Brew Coffee ☕

[@naveenjoshi7663]

Toady u looking very beautiful

[@oindigenous9990]

I understood what she said in Spanish but what she said in the second language not a word . Lol

[@frankdelvan1294]

For the people yes. First is Mandarin.

[@Donello]

@@frankdelvan1294 Mandarin? Where? She's speaking Spanish and Hebrew (besides English).

[@veronicalinares321]

@Frank The first one is Spanish WTF

[@MyNamesLucas]

did not like presentation, and she didn't clearly even learn how to do pronounciation well xd

[@Donello]

I think she's pretty much aware that her pronunciation isn't perfect, but she's a competent speaker of Spanish nonetheless.

[@Earbly]

She seems a little too full of glee and joy to inform the crowd that bilinguals outperform monolinguals. If I was a monolingual speaker I'd find her attitude especially obnoxious.

[@Donello]

I don't think she's full of glee and joy about bilinguals outperforming monolinguals. She's passionate about learning languages and the advantages it has. At some point she even gets upset about something related to the subject.

[@samuelleaf1124]

why are you so excited ，could you speak like a human being,noisy,high key voice