Write an essay arguing and universities should- or should not- require foreign language for admission or graduation.
America Today
It’s 2010 and technological skills have taken a back seat to world wide work skills. A few years ago every student was trying to gain as many technological skills that they possibly could, but with the economy changing everyday, Americans are looking to work with other countries. In order to be able to work with other countries all students should be studying other languages. While studying those languages they will also gain culture history and world wide economics information. Countries world wide have children learning two languages by the age of ten, due to the fact that it easier for the brain to process new languages. In America schools are behind in that way, but America does require a year of language at college level depending on the degree. I personally feel that it’s great to have to take diverse courses.
The national world language is English but it can and does change. University students should be taught a foreign Language because:
1. Knowing two languages gives anyone an extremely cutthroat edge over those who do not know a foreign language.
2. One will be able to communicate with an entire group of people from another nation that might work for the same company.
3. While learning a foreign language, one will learn about the culture, history and their economic stand.
4. Knowing a foreign language makes it easier to travel and work in another country.
America is one of the few most industrialized nations to not have children learning a foreign language. Learning two languages is important to be well rounded person and to have a step up over others in finding a high paying job. Companies today are now world wide and need employees to be able to communicate with the other nations on a day to day bases. Knowing two languages puts you ahead in communication. It makes it possible to travel for work or even be stationed in another country.
Foreign languages can be fun and open a college student to a whole new world. If a college student takes foreign languages course is gives them an option to study overseas. It can allow a student to see two countries sides to a world war, and other historical events. America is the most diverse country with many cultural differences. Most Americans came from immigrating and everyone should learn their cultural background and their family’s native languages.
College students in America should count their blessings to have the ability to learn a foreign language. Not all college students get that option. America is a nation full of immigrants and everyone should want to learn other languages and cultures. It is important to know two languages while living in California, due to the fact that California is a bilingual speaking state and on all government papers there are two languages. I feel that no matter what everyone can gain something from taking a foreign language course. I see it as new, great experience and a way to gain knowledge of different parts of the world.
I also agree that we should be required to learn a foreign language. As you stated, doors can be opened for students to be able to study abroad. There are employment opportunities that are available for bilingual applicants. When traveling abroad for business or pleasure, the trip is more productive and pleasurable to know the native language. To know at least two languages is extremely beneficial in the global society we live in today. Learning other languages at a young age stimulate intellectual growth and sharpen our cognitive skills. It also better prepares our children to be global leaders of tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteResponse to Fingersfolded:
ReplyDeleteI too agree that students in college should be required to learn a foreign language, but even better to start younger. It is much easier to learn a foreign language when you are younger, and I think schools should start even in elementary grades to require language training.
I have a daughter-in-law who is Mongolian. Mongolia was the first country to be sucked into the USSR after the Russian Revolution. She grew up speaking her native Mongolian, but she also learned to speak functional Russian because the Russians took over their industry and politics. She learned to speak English in school, and progressed to the point of being a translator as a young adult. Even though she is very competent, when she came to America, she felt insecure about her English skills. Even with all that education and exposure, she still was on a learning curve. And we expect two years of high school foreign language to do anything at all in contributing to any kind of fluency. It is only an appetizer! The only way to gain fluency is to start young and reinforce through high school and college—that is, if foreign language is indeed valued as a life asset. English may be an international language, but we only help ourselves as world citizens if we learn another language that helps us transcend cultural barriers.
My grandbaby is 1 ½ and is learning to speak English from my son, Mongolian (and, who knows, maybe Russian) and English from her non-native-speaking mother, and they are teaching her American Sign Language besides, which is all the fashion with babies now. Will this better equip her in a world that seems to be getting smaller? I can’t help but think so. Maybe, if I want to really confuse her, I will start teaching her French!