Should Foreign Languages be Taught in School?
Frank Smith once said, “One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.” Most primary through high schools in the US only require for students to learn English, and like Smith said, those students will have less opportunities in the future. If schools required a second language to be taught to students, there would be more possibilities for them to succeed later in life. When a child is exposed to a new language, their view on other countries and their cultures will broaden. Also, studying a foreign language can make a child smarter. Grasping a new language will make communication with people from other countries easier in the future. However, incorporating
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This is not intended to be racist, but spending a school year in China with the students, who were taught two languages, showed that there is definitely a big cognitive difference between the children in China and the children in the US. If the schools in the US added a second language to their studies, students will become more intelligent because they will become more prone to picking up new things. Many English words originate from other languages, so once students learn them, their English will also improve due to more understanding of their roots. Additionally, many well-known colleges such as Ivy League colleges will not accept a student into their school unless they have at least four years of experience with a foreign language. Quite a bit of people would be thrilled to go to an Ivy League college or a similar type of college, so picking up a new language is a rather beneficial opportunity to take up. But, if all schools provided the opportunity of learning a new language, then all students can have a good shot for their future. All in all, studying other languages can improve one’s brain performance and their performance in other
Exposing children to different cultures is necessary, and our culture needs to face that soon. It is proven that foreign language study can create more positive attitudes and less prejudice toward different cultures, which shows just how important foreign language really is (Latimer). Additionally, international travel is made a lot simpler (Latimer). Not to mention, speaking a foreign language can help to save money and improve a person's overall experience during their travels. Plus, foreign language can lead to appreciation of cultural diversity, which is much needed in
It has become common knowledge that the United States is falling behind the rest of the world. Economically, Industrially, and educationally, the rest of the world pushes forward and welcomes change while the United States clings to what it has known for decades. One of the largest gaps between the US and the rest of the world is its policy about second languages, and it puts the US at a disadvantage. Those who oppose change believe the US can better itself without making secondary language learning mandatory; they argue that it will cost more money, “turn students off” to learning a second language entirely, and that the benefits are not worth the costs. Unless a change is made in the United States’ language education, the country will continue to fall behind. Making learning a second language mandatory not only helps students, but the country as a whole by “raising the bar” and improving the country’s competitiveness with the rest of the world.
Spanish should not be a language American schools require because as many know, Spanish is not the only other language; yet we have all been told we are required to take Spanish as our foreign language. Well, there are a lot of faults with what we have been told. We have also been deprived of some information about why we have to learn Spanish. There are so many other languages to learn, others more important and useful. Not only more important and useful, but also with not learning Spanish, it will make life easier and not as stressful.
I have a nice little list of benefits you could be taking advantage that a couple of us here are already taking advantage even if we know it or not. Let's start with something a little more obvious. Psychological studies found that knowing more languages is a great asset. The benefits are usually only noticeable on those who speak other languages more frequently. Naturally younger kids can learn languages faster than older folk like us that's one reason why some of you probably dropped spanish. Good news is we can still reach same level of fluency just with a thicker accent. Speaking a foreign language also improves your brain power and problem solving skills in which allows you to score better on standardized tests. For those who love being on your phone during class you can also upgrade your multi tasking skill so think about it. For you health nerds… haha just playing. Bilingualism can help you delay alzheimer's and dementia, monolinguals average out at 71.4 bilinguals at 75.5(telegraph.Co.UK) . Probably should've said this first but it being bilingual vastly improves memory which makes sense since it holds back alzheimers. Another great benefit which is something us teens need, better decision making. For those who travel or want to travel outside the U.S knowing the language of where you're wanting to go could significantly improve your stay. Not everyone may like to admit to
I found an article written by David Skorton and Glenn Altschuler for the Forbes entitled “America’s Foreign Language Deficit”. The authors agree with the U.S. Secretary of Education A. Duncan that Americans need to read, speak and understand other languages in order to grow economically and improve relations with countries all over the world. However, Skorton and Altschuler pointed out some facts about foreign language education in U.S. schools, saying “The percentage of all middle schools offering foreign language instruction decreased from 75 to 58 percent. In 2009-2010, only 50.7 percent of higher education institutions required foreign language study for a baccalaureate, compared to 67.5 percent in 1994-1995. Many colleges and universities have reduced or eliminated instructional offerings in “less popular” languages.”
Learning in different languages or about different cultures would be beneficial to their brains, for it
Language study will not only provide your child with the skills to speak, write and read a foreign language, but will typically also give insight into the history and culture of societies where the language is used. This can broaden your child’s view of the world and open their eyes to cultures and societies outside of Australia. It can provide opportunities for international travel: Learning a second language can offer students a number of opportunities for international study. This may mean embarking on an exchange trip in secondary school (taking the opportunity to study at a sister school, for example) or completing a semester abroad or a student exchange program in tertiary years. These programs can be highly competitive, so speaking another language may not only increase your child’s chances of selection but also means they are not limited to an English-speaking country or courses conducted in
According to Merritt, 2013 you will become smarter, speaking a foreign language improves working of your brain by challenging it to learn, changing meaning, and communicate in different language systems. This skill improves your ability to change meaning in other problem-solving work as well and then when we become smarter the most important effect to us about our life is can get a good
Language is an important part of our lives. I remember when I arrived to USA I could speak a little English. I went to school to improve my language, reading and writing skills; even now I am learning my second language, without English I cannot survive in this new environment. Now I am raising my own kids and I want them to have this important skill, this privilege of knowing a second language, language of their parents and grandparents. By looking at studies of bilingual children, research shows how important it is for a child to learn a second language. Raising a bilingual child is a benefit because it improves social skills, academic proficiency, introduces child to a different culture, and prepares for the future.
Speaking a language other than your mother tongue opens a door onto the world. Becoming proficient in a foreign tongue equates to a wider range of options in love, career, and friendships.
Foreign language skills could have a positive impact on race relations in America. The number of minorities in America is rapidly increasing. In fact, "minority" groups will soon form a collective "majority" of the citizens in America. Considering the facts that many minority groups speak English as a second language and America has no official language, compulsory foreign language classes are viable options. Of course, opponents of mandatory foreign language courses will say that immigrants and naturalized citizens should learn and speak the "de facto" official language of the United States--English. It is a valid point, but misses the bigger picture. People who speak English as a second language are already bilingual, while American-born students typically are not. Language is the most fundamental aspect of a culture. Students who learn the not-so-foreign language of the predominant minority group in their region of the country will gain at least some insight into the different culture of their neighbors and perhaps have a better understanding of them at the personal level. If we take these bits of insight and understanding and couple them with compassion, fertile ground for multicultural harmony in America will be sown. While foreign language skills can improve domestic affairs, the same can be said of foreign affairs.
Early Childhood Care and Education, UNESCO (2007) points out the overlooked advantages of multilingual education in the early years. When children are offered opportunities to learn in their mother tongue, they are more likely to enroll and succeed in school and their parents are more likely to communicate with teachers and participate in their children’s
When we know a new language, just we can start to see connections we couldn’t see before because each and every language approaches the world in a slight different way. As a result, we have the opportunity to understand the world from the respective of another culture and gain a greater appreciation of human society in all its diversity. Therefore, the importance of second language learning is gain reinforced. We became not just equipped to communicate across the cultures but empowered and to understand others’ point of view also.
I truly think that multilingual education will be worthwhile, especially with the critical period to consider, just as mentioned above. People are still able to think if multilingualism fits them while trying multilingual education; yet, once the kids miss the golden period for this, it would be harder to acquire the language fully. Moreover, even though might be some doubts to think about, multilingualism still seems to do more good than harm. There is no persuasive reason to stay monolingual instead of being multilingual, so I’ll suggest that it is time to embrace multilingual
() Moreover, people who are learning foreign languages develop self-confidence. Multilingual people tend to attract people because of their skills. You can overcome your fears and doubts, become more intelligent, meet new interesting people and travel to places you would have never dared to visit before. This means that if you learn foreign languages, this is likely to improve your ability to solve financial difficulties, for example.