Language Needs of Public Service
Government agencies, by law, are required to provide public services to non-English speaking populations in their native language. Rhode Island emergency services, health care, and public transportation were areas specifically researched under the 2011 Rhode Island Language Summit. The research found that Spanish speaking employees were of high demand, followed by Portuguese. The study explains that the demand for government services to be provided in these and other world languages exceed the supply. Nearly all government services expressed a desire to employ bilingual personnel, however due to the lack of trained, capable personnel this is not possible.
Through focusing on language proficiency, services such as health care, public transportation, and other government works would be provided for non-English speakers. The summit report states that such personnel should possess at least an intermediate to advanced knowledge of the other language and specific vocabulary pertaining to the specific scenarios involved in the position. It is crucial to grant children with the skills necessary to help those of our community. Through use of a proficiency based world language curriculum in schools K-12, students would be capable of such tasks by the time they enter high school.
Through focusing on language proficiency, services such as health care, public transportation, and other government works would be provided for non-English speakers. The summit report states that such personnel should possess at least an intermediate to advanced knowledge of the other language and specific vocabulary pertaining to the specific scenarios involved in the position. It is crucial to grant children with the skills necessary to help those of our community. Through use of a proficiency based world language curriculum in schools K-12, students would be capable of such tasks by the time they enter high school.