Picture this. It's the first day of kindergarten. You arrive at school with little Jenny tightly clutching your hand. She's been talking about this for months. You're both a little apprehensive. The teacher spots you in the doorway...hesitating about venturing in. She warmly crosses the room and introduces herself to you and Jenny...in Spanish!
Yes, you're in Grand Rapids, Michigan, but this is not a neighborhood of predominantly Spanish speaking people. In fact most of the students in the classroom look Anglos...they're very white. But this is a Spanish speaking classroom. All the students will be speaking Spanish for the next 8 years while enrolled in a Spanish Immersion Program in Ada Vista school in the Forest Hills, one of West Michigan's premier school districts. This is a very innovative approach to education. And it's hot! Real hot! In fact, you may have to place your child on a waiting list to get in.
Why? Well, it's about the the results. According to a report delivered to the Forest Hills Board of Education and published in November 2006, there is a real success story unfolding as a result of this type of education. The report by Sue Penning noted that First Graders at Ada Vista scored higher on the Language Proficiency Tests than what would be expected of high-schoolers who had taken two years of a foreign language. By fourth grade, students scored higher than college students who had a foreign language as a major!
My husband recently met with an individual who has children at Ada Vista. These parents seem to be extremely pleased with the quality of education their children are receiving. In fact, test results have kids testing higher in just about every subject by the time they finish the eight grade and join their counterparts in primarily English speaking high-schools.
I've heard it said that speaking another language increases the alertness of the brain. So does learning to function within another culture. One of the skills which will become increasingly important as our nation 
continues to diversify is the ability to relate effectively with different people groups. The single largest increase in home ownership will be within populations that are foreign or considered minorities.
According to Wikipedia, Cultural intelligence is " understanding the impact of an individual's cultural background on their behaviour (which is) is essential for effective business, AND measuring an individual's ability to engage successfully in any environment or social setting." Cultural Intelligence is also becoming a pre-requisite for promotion in many major corporations as they compete strategically around the globe. When one of our friends took an executive level job in Asia a few years ago, it was clearly to position for future career advancement. When he completes this assignment, he will probably recruited by a number of major corporations.
The realization of the importance of Cultural Intelligence is gaining some traction within the real estate community. But perhaps, not fast enough. Within our local Board, barely 2% of the agents are foreign or minorities. When it comes to brokers...the numbers trend downward even more precipitously. In recognition of the significance of this issue, the National Association of Realtors is working in cooperation with an number ethnic organizations and lending giants such as Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae by launching Project HOPE. However, as an industry we are making limited progress in attracting agents who reflect the changing demographics of our nation or the world. In the next 10 years, with the US population waning and the diversity of our nation increasing, it will be important to be able to effectively conduct business with people from a variety of different cultures.
Cultural intelligence is a skill which is important to master in every profession. Without it, real estate agents will find themselves loosing the advantage when it comes to negotiating and providing expertise. Cultural intelligence starts with a few simple premises. It's a recognition that other people matter. It's about true respect for those who are different than we are...which by the way is really everybody. And...it's an appreciation for the richness that differences bring to our lives.
Grasping these lessons may be the greatest benefit that the educational experience that the first graders at Ada Vista are experiencing delivers. It may also foreshadow another way of considering how to engage our world in a way that is mutually beneficial within the context of mutual goals and respect for our distinct uniqueness.
Here are some questions to Assess your Cultural Intelligence Skills:
1. Do you speak any other language apart from English?
2. Do you network with professionals in related or the same fields who are minorities or foreign nationals?
3. Have you ever lived with or had a close personal relationship someone from another culture?
4. Have you ever been to another country?
To Test Your Global Intelligence IQ, Click on the Link! This is a fun quiz & I was surprised by my result. :)
Photo is courtesy of Matt McGee's photostream
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Lola Audu, is the Designated Broker & Owner of Audu Real Estate. Our company specializes in helping people buy and sell homes in the greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area. You can contact us via e-mail @ info@auduhomes.com or by phone at 616-791-0511. Thanks for visiting our blog. Here are links to some of our most popular posts for you to enjoy!
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Unfortunately, when I was in high school and college taking a language was not required. Luckily, it is required of my children, who will each have at least 4 years of Spanish before they graduate from high school. Unfortunately, my answers to your questions show that I'm not very worldly:
1. Do you speak any other language apart from English? No, sadly
2. Do you network with professionals in related or the same fields who are minorities or foreign nationals? I have a friend who is also in real estate who specializes in servicing the Spanish-speaking community
3. Have you ever lived with or had a close personal relationship someone from another culture? Friends, co-workers, but not "close"
4. Have you ever been to another country? Yes, I love to travel and experience other cultures!
Lola,
Great post as always. Most developed nations in the world speak 2 or more languages. People of the United States are arrogant in their thinking that they don't need to speak a foreign language.
It should be a requirement in all schools, not just private schools, that all children in this country are to be taught another language. I've been learning Spanish this year. I scored 8 out of 10 on the cultural IQ test. Woo Hoo!!
Good for you Harold! I admire the fact that you're learning another language. Most nations in the world do speak more than one language...developed or under developed. It has not made Germans or Japanese less than who they are to speak their native tongue AND English. We need to prepare our children to compete effectively on a global stage. Language is one aspect, but even more...an ability to understand and function well in the company of different types of people groups.
Lola - this is phenomenal! What a progressive system this is.
I took the Global IQ and did very well! I was surprised at myself. Thanks for another great post!
Lola,
Learning another language is fine, though usually useless. At least I have never met anyone, who learned a language at school to any practical point. As a former educator, I do not see much value in that. If there is no language environment, it does not really work
As a boy, I spent summers on the Black Sea, where my aunt lived (this is a war zone since 1991). This area, unlike middle Russia, where I lived with my mom and my brother, was quite diverse. Georgians, Abkhaz, Armenians, Azeris, Russians, Greek - this was really a diverse group. I remember spending time on the beach with local kids, and I was always fascinated by how easily they were switching from one language to another depending on who they were talking to.
As an immigrant, I can answer "yes" to all of your questions. I do speak another language and, unfortunately, much better than English. I got 10 on the quiz, but it is sooooo simple.
As to the benefits of working with immigrants, I would be cautious. This is a great country, so many immigrants came, and this is all America. Well, not so fast. It is America after we/immigrants go through the melting pot. Then we become Americans. There is so much crap came from Russia, for example (and I am sure from other places as well). I worked as a resettlement coordinator in the Bronx in the largest Co-Op in the world (60,000 residents), working with Russian refugees, and I once asked a Professor of Social Studies at Columbia University, who was very much involved in working with refugees from Russia, what she thought about all these people, who did not want to work, abused the system in any way possible, were ripping all the benefits, did nothing good whatsoever, were obnoxious, I rather stop... I was angry, but she was not angry, she told me that they know that this is happening. She told me, that older people would never change, but their children and grandchildren would be those normal Americans.
I quit my job there in two years as I could not longer take it. I was too good in getting them all the perks and benefits, and I knew that many of them did not deserve it. I guess the professor was right. Our generation is not going to change, but our children and grandchildren are Americans of whatever decent they are.
I avoid working with Russians, even though I speak the language and culturally I guess I am more there than here. I tried a couple of times, but it was not worth it. I rfled Russia from all this BS, and I do not want to hear it again.
Be aware that though you may think very highly of any immigrant group coming to the US, this is the only culture so open to other cultures. Other cultures have way less tolerance, they are more physical, and size matters. Abuse is normal, bribery is normal, lying is OK, stealing is OK. I hate saying it, I do not want to badmouth a nation or a culture, but we are coming from a different way of life. Contrary to what you think about us, the only thing in common is that we have two arms, two legs, and a head (sometimes). What's in this head is absolutely different. It is really a hard work to become American. It is a concerted effort, and it never stops.
After 17 years here I am still learning, and controlling my temper is difficult. But I am a sheep compared to the way I was in Russia.
Anyway, it is important here, in US, like you write in the post. It is even more important when dealing with other cultures and other nations abroad. If and when Americans learn not to come to other counties with American set of cultural and political priorities, it will be really a successful leader, but this is topic for another blog.
Thanks for the post, Lola. Guess I should dust off my Pimsleur Spanish course that is sitting hear and use it!
1. Do you speak any other language apart from English? un poco
2. Do you network with professionals in related or the same fields who are minorities or foreign nationals? Yes
3. Have you ever lived with or had a close personal relationship someone from another culture? Spent a semester in Mexico teaching Math and Computers - does that count?
4. Have you ever been to another country? Besides Mexico - Canada, Austria
Jon, Thank you very much for your insightful comment. You make a number of important points & I appreciate the perspective you brought to the discussion on this blog post. I found the fact that you found it easy to get a 10 on the quiz amusing! I actually got 2 of them wrong. :)
I came to this nation when I was in my late teens so I understand what you are saying when talking about the differences in culture. People are very different in other parts of the world and it does take time to learn and absorb American Values, Perspective and Culture. Your frustration about people taking undue advantage of the system is justified, although most foreign nationals who come to this country work very hard to make a better life for themselves.
As our world becomes more inter-connected through globalization, understanding and knowing how to interact with different cultures has become a very necessary skill for success in a variety of businesses including real estate.
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS LOLA! I think we live in a culture where people are very English-only ignorant (yup I said that!) Way back when I studied early childhood education and psychology 17+ years ago, the studies were available then. It has to do with age and brain connections. Second language as early as possible = good, Algebra before it's time = bad. There is a delicate balance.
Most cultures teach their children more than one language early on and I don't get why we don't.
I took 6 years of French (not one ounce even though my sisters and I all sport French names), I know what I call "Kitchen Spanish" and my Spanish speaking friends die laughing when I start with my little sayings and since I am 100% Polish, I know how to swear in Polish. I have been to Portugal and Mexico and that's it. Really want to go to France, Ireland & Poland. Unfortunately I have retained very little French and really wish I would have kept up on top of it!
It is not a very good idea to return to comments without risking to become boring, but...
USA is surviving with English only (meaning there is actually not that much need to know another language to survive and even succeed in life. I am not sure Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Steven Spielberg and many many others can speak any other language besides English. Same in Russia, where college educated people generally do not speak other languages, China and many other countries. On the other hand you can safely bet that educated people in Finland speak several languages, same in Belgium, etc. It is purely economical. To be a successful person in a relatively small and well integrated Finland means that you have a working command of several languages. The same is not needed on the vast spaces in Russia. It is self sufficient, like USA, like China...
When there is no economic need, this is a great wish, rarely realized. When this is the way to become successful, people do it and the results are great. Thus Israelis speak English, Scandinavians speak German, or French, or both... Being "English -only ignorant" is because this is a huge and stable country. And for many immigrant family there is another problem - children refusing to speak their first language, and forgetting it. Happens all over. My elder grandson (15) speaks not perfect Russian, but can't write or read. Little Shane (7) does not speak Russian at all.
Jon, your comment is so true in pointing out the fact that the issue is about perceived need. When people understand they need something to succeed, they will do it. The United States is fortunate to be so vast, that we are not unduly close to any of our neighbors in the way that most other nations of the world are.
That being said, however, the experiences of this country since 911 have proved that our engagement and understanding of the world is critical for survival. Learning another language, in my opinion, is simply one tool which can facilitate this process...there are definitely others. And...I don't find your comments boring at all. I enjoy discussions of this nature. Thank you for returning...
I feel the best way to learn about other cultures is to travel the world - to experience new cultures. There's nothing like seeing to believe.
1. Do you speak any other language apart from English? Some Spanish
2. Do you network with professionals in related or the same fields who are minorities or foreign nationals? My husband is from Australia but his family is from Italy. He also lived in Italy as a young child.
3. Have you ever lived with or had a close personal relationship someone from another culture? See #2
4. Have you ever been to another country?
Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, England, Greece, Malta, Spain, Island of Palma de Mallorca, all over the Caribbean, Australia
Hi Lola! I have lived all over the world (my dad was in the Navy and ex Air Force) I've lived all over the U.S., Japan, Philippines, Turkey and of course the majority of my life in Hawaii (mom born/raised on Kauai) As you know, Hawaii is such a diverse and cultural rich society with many different races and nationalities. I myself am from Japanese ancestry (mom is Japanese) and dad was Swedish. Of course we work right alongside of these races and though sometimes it can be hard....with some who hardly speak...it is attainable and possible.
While living in Japan as a child I had a Japanes girlfriend...Funny, neither one of us spoke each others language but we got along just fine :)
wow...went back in time there :)
Jacks...that was a game I loved to play as a little girl! We can learn a lot from kids can't we. It becomes so much harder to cross the barriers as we become older and more entrenched in our ways. But, I don't think we're necessarily the better for it. Thanks for sharing this memory...