Dear ELC Students,
The United Nations has declared 2008 the International Year of Languages because of the importance of languages for identity, education, and communication.
Yet many languages are in danger in the 21st century. Languages with few speakers are disappearing every year as their speech communities disappear.
The United Nations is encouraging people to learn and use multiple languages.
For many of you, English is a second language, and I applaud your investment in language learning. For some you, English is your third or even fourth language. You are contributing even more to the multilingualism of the world. If one of the languages you speak is an endangered language because fewer and fewer people speak it, please realize your important role in promoting this language.
Here at the English Language Center in our role as language teachers, we have the responsibility to support language diversity, languages with few speakers, and multilingualism. We have the obligation to value other languages and make sure the resources are there to ensure their survival.
For information about endangered languages and projects to support them, see www.unesco.org/en/languages
With best wishes to all of you and good luck in your future language study,
Barbara Hoekje
Director, ELC
215 895-2067 (phone)
215 895-6775 (fax)