{{B}}Decling Internet in Developing
Foreign Language Skills{{/B}} ? ?Australians’ foreign language skills
are declining, Voice of America has reported. New figures show that only 13
percent of high school graduates can speak a foreign language. But four decade
ago, 40 percent had foreign language skills. ? ?Professor Elise
Tipton, from the University of Sydney, says increasingly students do not feel
the need to learn another language to boost their career. She believes that
Australia’s economic boom, which is driven by red-hot demand for its minerals,
is helping mask serious deficiencies (缺陷) in its language skills. ?
?Australia does business very successfully in English with most of its
trading partners. But as the world’s economic power shifts to emerging regions
such as Asia, its language gap could soon be exposed. According to the new
figures, less than 6.5 percent of high school graduates are proficient in an
Asian language. Academics worry that this means Australia will increasingly be
isolated from its economically important Asian neighbors, Dilip Dutta, from the
economics and business faculty at Sydney University, says language skills can
enhance trading opportunities. If Australians want to trade with Asian
countries, it is very important for them to learn the language that will help
them to get closer to the culture. ? ?But students have different
opinions about Asian language learning. Pippa McCowage, a 22-year-old Australian
student, says many young Australians have a half-hearted approach to foreign
languages, and the language curriculum is often weak. "While we’re encouraged in
high school to learn another language, it’s not really apparent to me as a
realistic expectation that you will have to speak it," said McCowage. "For
example, I learned Japanese in high school. When I went on an exchange in Year
10,I found that the Japanese students of my age had a much greater proficiency
in English than I did in Japanese. So in that sense, it almost discourages
you." ? ?At present, about 70 percent of Australia’s major exports
go to Asia and the Australian government has been keen on developing closer
economic and diplomatic ties with Asia. Academics say that, as Asia becomes one
of the world’s economic powerhouses (经济体), Australia needs to improve its
language skills if it is to take full advantage of the business opportunities on
its doorstep.
What does Dilip Dutta think language skills can do?
{{B}}Decling Internet in Developing
Foreign Language Skills{{/B}} ? ?Australians’ foreign language skills
are declining, Voice of America has reported. New figures show that only 13
percent of high school graduates can speak a foreign language. But four decade
ago, 40 percent had foreign language skills. ? ?Professor Elise
Tipton, from the University of Sydney, says increasingly students do not feel
the need to learn another language to boost their career. She believes that
Australia’s economic boom, which is driven by red-hot demand for its minerals,
is helping mask serious deficiencies (缺陷) in its language skills. ?
?Australia does business very successfully in English with most of its
trading partners. But as the world’s economic power shifts to emerging regions
such as Asia, its language gap could soon be exposed. According to the new
figures, less than 6.5 percent of high school graduates are proficient in an
Asian language. Academics worry that this means Australia will increasingly be
isolated from its economically important Asian neighbors, Dilip Dutta, from the
economics and business faculty at Sydney University, says language skills can
enhance trading opportunities. If Australians want to trade with Asian
countries, it is very important for them to learn the language that will help
them to get closer to the culture. ? ?But students have different
opinions about Asian language learning. Pippa McCowage, a 22-year-old Australian
student, says many young Australians have a half-hearted approach to foreign
languages, and the language curriculum is often weak. "While we’re encouraged in
high school to learn another language, it’s not really apparent to me as a
realistic expectation that you will have to speak it," said McCowage. "For
example, I learned Japanese in high school. When I went on an exchange in Year
10,I found that the Japanese students of my age had a much greater proficiency
in English than I did in Japanese. So in that sense, it almost discourages
you." ? ?At present, about 70 percent of Australia’s major exports
go to Asia and the Australian government has been keen on developing closer
economic and diplomatic ties with Asia. Academics say that, as Asia becomes one
of the world’s economic powerhouses (经济体), Australia needs to improve its
language skills if it is to take full advantage of the business opportunities on
its doorstep.
What does Dilip Dutta think language skills can do?
A.Improve your relation with your partner B.Help settle international conflicts C.Remove barriers in negotiations D.Increase trading opportunities
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