Skills for coding

The ability to learn languages is a better predictor of success in computer programming and coding than math skills, researchers  found. The study points to stereotypes and math prerequisite courses as barriers to attracting more diversity to coding and connects coding more to the cognitive skills needed to learn languages and the working memory of students.

Prat, C.S., Madhyastha, T.M., Mottarella, M.J. et al. Relating Natural Language Aptitude to Individual Differences in Learning Programming Languages. Sci Rep 10, 3817 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60661-8

College Foreign Language Enrollment

According to a study, undergraduate enrollments in foreign-language courses at American colleges and universities rose 6.6 percent between 2006 and 2009. Graduate level foreign-language enrollments, however, declined 6.7 percent for the same period. Spanish, French, German, and American Sign Language (ASL) are the four most popular languages. Arabic has risen two positions in the ranking since 2006 to eighth most popular.

Furman, N., Goldberg, D., & Lusin, N. (2010). Enrollments in languages other than English in United States institutions of higher education, fall 2009. United States: The Modern Language Association of America. www.mla.org/pdf/2009_enrollment_survey.pdf