Economic: Asia is the world's largest continent and accounts for over half of the world's population. By 2050, it is estimated that Asia will comprise two-thirds of the global middle class. As a result, there is a growing need for workers who can communicate and do business in Asian languages.
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Political: Asia is home to some of the world's most powerful countries, including China, India, and Japan. As these countries continue to grow in power and influence, their languages are becoming increasingly important in international diplomacy and politics.
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Cultural: Asia has a rich and diverse culture that is expressed through its languages. Learning an Asian language can help you to gain a deeper understanding of Asian culture and society.
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Personal: Learning an Asian language can be a very rewarding experience. It can open up new opportunities for career advancement, travel, and personal growth.
As these reasons demonstrate, Asian literacy is important for a variety of reasons, and there are many resources available to help you learn one or more Asian languages.
Despite the importance of Asian literacy, there is no consensus among government, teachers, and principals on why it is important. Some believe that it is necessary for economic reasons, while others believe that it is important for cultural reasons. There is also debate about the best way to teach Asian literacy, with some arguing for a focus on traditional methods, while others argue for more innovative approaches.
The lack of consensus on the importance of Asian literacy and the best way to teach it has led to a situation where government, teachers, and principals are heading in different directions. This has made it difficult to develop a cohesive and effective Asian literacy policy.
As a result of these challenges, Asian literacy rates in the United States are relatively low. According to a 2013 study by the National Center for Education Statistics, only 1.5% of high school students in the United States are proficient in an Asian language. This is in contrast to 19.6% of high school students who are proficient in Spanish, and 7.4% of students who are proficient in German.
