Drake University president says more foreign language teaching needed

Drake University’s new president will focus on the importance of foreignlanguages during a speech this evening at the Iowa Council for InternationalUnderstanding’s business meeting. Drake’s newest President comes from the National Foreign Language Center atJohns Hopkins University. Dr. David Maxwell says studying foreign languagesand cultural differences is important for success in the 21st century.Maxwell says because of changes in attitudes and the way our brainsfunction, the earlier a person is exposed to foreign languages, the better.Maxwell says the hard part is getting foreign language and cultural studiesinto elementary schools.Maxwell will be speaking tonight at Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines.