07-Spring-View Final - Olympic College

SPRING 2007
The OC Review
Spotlight
Foreign Language Classes
Help Prepare Students for a
World without Borders
Learning a foreign
language is more
important than
ever. Americans must
be able to interact and
understand other cultures
and languages to excel in
a global economy—as well
as protect national security.
These factors have led to an
increase of students taking foreign language across the country.
This rise can be seen most dramatically in what were once known
as “less commonly taught” languages, such as Korean, Arabic, and
Japanese. According to the Modern Language Association’s 2002
Enrollment Survey (the most recent year data is available), the number
of students in Japanese classes at the two-year college level increased
38.4 percent between 1998 and 2002 and Arabic enrollments
increased 60.5 percent.
“There are high needs in the society to learn
other languages and cultures for job promotion
and communication purposes,” said Keiko Kawasaki,
who teaches Japanese classes at Olympic College. “Knowing
something different and appreciating something foreign can bring
students’ perspectives to the next level.”
Kelly Woodward, Poulsbo campus and continuing education director,
has seen a strong demand for foreign language enrichment classes at
the Poulsbo campus. “This year, we created a continuation non-credit
Japanese class so students taking credit classes can continue to develop
their skills,” said Woodward. “We are fortunate to have faculty
FOREIGN LANGUAGE continued on page 59
OC Linguistics
Instructor
Inspires Students
If learning a new language
is an intimidating process,
then moving to a foreign
country and mastering
a new language so it can
be taught is an extremely
daunting task.
This is what Eunha Jung, who has taught
English and linguistics at Olympic
College for the past 12 years, set out to
do when she moved to the United States
from South Korea at age 24. Jung decided
to go into linguistics to help others and
to disprove a popular theory cited among
linguists that said learning to speak
another language fluently was nearly
impossible after adolescence.
“When I first came here, there was great
discussion (in linguistics) of the Critical
Age hypothesis, which stated it’s difficult
to learn another language past a certain
age. Coming here as an adult I set out to
prove them wrong,” said Jung.
Jung’s life and teaching has been
dedicated to that idea. After receiving her
PhD in linguistic theory in Oklahoma
(and learning to speak a new language
fluently as an adult), she taught at the
universities of Michigan and Illinois and
adapted her own experience to those of
her students. Jung said her background
helps her relate to students who are
trying to learn about new languages. She
shares with Olympic College students her
love of linguistics and what it means in
their lives.
INSPIRES STUDENTS continued on page 59
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