Should American Students Be Required To Learn A Foreign Language?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Foreign language study creates more positive attitudes and less prejudice toward people who are different.

Analytical skills

improve when students study a foreign language. Business skills plus foreign language skills make an employee more valuable in the marketplace.

Do Americans need to learn another language?

Today most colleges also

require two years of the same foreign language

for admissions with more selective colleges requiring three years. As you quickly learn when traveling outside our borders, the United States is one of the few countries in the world where its citizens are only fluent in one language.

Should learning a second language be mandatory?

In conclusion, learning a second language should be required. A second language can help anyone broaden their horizons, widen their communication skills and help admit them into colleges or earn scholarships. At least two years of a language will benefit anyone more than none at all.

Why is it important to learn foreign languages?

The study of foreign

teaches and encourages respect for other peoples

: it fosters an understanding of the interrelation of language and human nature. Foreign languages expand one's view of the world, liberalize one's experiences, and make one more flexible and tolerant.

Should students have to learn a foreign language in school?

Bilinguals have

better problem-solving skills

, as well as improved memory, concentration, and mental flexibility. Students who pursue language studies also tend to score better on standardized tests and benefit from academic progress in other subjects.

What if someone never learned language?

All we could say is that the person who never learned a language would find it exceedingly difficult to communicate with others, but presumably would be able to communicate with herself just fine. For the record,

Deaf people

do have language, in the form of sign languages.

Which language is most spoken in the world?

  • English (1.132 million speakers)
  • Mandarin (1.117 million speakers)
  • Spanish (534 million speakers)
  • French (280 million speakers)
  • Arabic (274 million speakers)
  • Russian (258 million speakers)
  • Portuguese (234 million speakers)

Does the US have a second language?

In fact,

the US has no official language

. … People in this country have been speaking languages other than English since before the founding of the republic. In fact, common languages spoken throughout the 13 colonies included Dutch, French and German, not to mention the many languages spoken by Native Americans.

How many Americans learn another language?


Less than 1 percent of American adults

today are proficient in a foreign language that they studied in a U.S. classroom. That's noteworthy considering that in 2008 almost all high schools in the country—93 percent—offered foreign languages, according to a national survey.

What are disadvantages of learning a second language?

  • Education in a second language can be inconsistent. …
  • Learning specific content can be extremely difficult. …
  • A bilingual education is not cheap. …
  • It prevents student involvement in local culture. …
  • Bilingual education can shift a student's focus.

Why should you not learn a second language?

  • Too many choices make decisions harder. …
  • Lack of Motivation and Interest. …
  • You don't have enough time to study. …
  • You don't have any requirement. …
  • Language learning is difficult. …
  • Languages classes are Expensive. …
  • You're too old to learn a foreign language.

What countries require students to learn a second language?

In

France, Romania, Austria, Norway, Malta, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein

, every student must learn another language. The country with the least amount of students enrolled is actually Belgium, with 64 percent, just behind Portugal (69 percent) and the Netherlands (70 percent).

What foreign language is easiest?

This pick should come as no surprise.

Spanish

has always been a go-to language for English speakers to learn due to its practicality and wide reach. Well, it's also one of the easiest languages to learn for English speakers.

Which foreign language is in demand?


Mandarin

If you're looking for which foreign language has more job opportunities, Mandarin displays itself as one of the best language to learn. After English, it's the most demanded foreign language thanks to its 1 billion speakers.

Why is language so powerful?

Language is powerful and

a virtue to self-reflection because we use it to communicate in writing, speaking, and even visually

. Language is valuable to express and share how we feel, as close as we can put into words. We praise the influence and value of language so much that we encourage individuals to be multilingual.

What happens if you never talk to your child?

Consequences of Not Talking to Your Baby

Not speaking with your children means

their vocabularies will be smaller

. Not conversing with your children also means that you're spending less time paying attention to and interacting with them. When that happens, it can be difficult to develop a strong bond with your baby.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.