Why our students need to study foreign languages

This is an assignment I had to complete for a class called "Teaching Modern Languages". I had to explain the importance for American schools to keep their foreign language programs.

Studying a foreign language can improve students’ skills in other areas such as reading and math. It can also induce greater cognitive development in creativity and problem-solving areas. In today’s competitive world, all of these are abilities necessary to succeed in any field that students wish to pursue in the future. Learning a foreign language can help students to better understand their native language and therefore increase their abilities in standardized tests. This represents a huge advantage when we consider the importance of tests like the SATs, GMAT, GRE, etc., in our education system.

According to Thomas L. Friedman, author of the bestseller “The world is flat”, the first, and most important ability we can develop in a globalized world is the ability to “learn how to learn”, to constantly absorb and teach ourselves new ways of doing things. I believe that learning a language does not only help us to acquire abilities to learn but it also gives us, through cultural awareness, a greater and different perspective on how to do things.

Knowledge of a foreign language will increase students’ chance to be accepted into high quality university programs. Higher education institutions look at many aspects when reviewing applications and one of them is the applicant’s interest in other cultures and languages. It is very important for students to be able to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pool of candidates and a great way to do this is by showing the ability to speak and understand another language. Even more, if they can take advantage of volunteering opportunities through their foreign language knowledge, students will be setting their applications in a privileged situation.

Imagine how many people apply to a nursing program each semester. And then imagine the percentage of those students who speak a second language and who have been involved in health care related activities by providing services to minorities. The latter students will have a greater chance of their applications being looked with a special interest.

Once they are in college, having studied a foreign language will allow students to take advantage of study abroad programs. In the areas of business, arts, and architecture for example, an internship or course overseas is highly recommended if not mandatory. If students want to study literature, theatre, or music, there is a great probability that their programs will require and advanced knowledge of a second language.

After college, students will be able to increase their career opportunities if they speak another language. It does not matter which field people end up choosing. In a globalized world, the knowledge of other languages and cultures is necessary to succeed as a professional. For students that decide to work in the business world, the knowledge of other language can lead to a promotion and transfer to a subsidiary overseas. All other skills being equal, the candidate that a company such as P&G will choose to transfer to another country will be the one with knowledge of the language and culture of that foreign market.

It does not matter if students decide not to travel to other countries. According to U.S. Census records, minorities, classified as those of any race other than non-Hispanic, single-race whites, currently constitute about a third of the U.S. population. But by 2042, they are projected to become the majority, making up more than half the population. By 2050, 54 percent of the population will be minorities. This means that students will need a second language to communicate with people in their own community. If they have a business or an idea to sell, they must be able to reach a market that represents more than half of the population. They will need to speak the language of their workers in order to train them appropriately and avoid factory accidents due to lack of proper warning signs. Evidence suggests that companies that implement good diversity management programs are more likely to attract and maintain employees as well as create a good reputation in the market.

Studying another language, will allow students to feel closer and connected to other cultures. This will create a positive emotional experience as they increase their global understanding. This increased global understanding will in turn, make it easier for these young people to adapt to the fast pace of our world. Their view of the world will be expanded and considering that in this region, people’s perspective in general is rather limited, it becomes vital for this to change. Proficiency in another language means having access to international news sources, which can lead to a more educated perspective of world issues.

Students are the citizens of tomorrow and therefore, their increased cultural awareness and sensitivity will have a positive impact on our society. We are not isolated from the rest of the world and it is imperative to train our future leaders on how to deal with cultural diversity. In a globalized world, our society cannot afford to remain ignorant of what is happening in other countries or to minorities in our own one.

To conclude, I would like to quote Columbia University’s President, Lee. C. Bollinger. His view on cultural awareness is that “connecting with people very – or even slightly – different from ourselves stimulates the imagination; and when we learn to see the world through a multiplicity of eyes, we only make ourselves more nimble in mastering - and integrating – the diverse fields of knowledge awaiting us”.