What is your stance on the elimination of foreign languages from American high schools? Do you think foreign languages are necessary at that age or at all? Why or why not?
What is your stance on the elimination of foreign languages from American high schools? Do you think foreign languages are necessary at that age or at all? Why or why not?
I do not agree with the option of removal from high schools, either. I have taken 3 years of Spanish, and I don’t regret a single day of it. Foreign language offers such a different perspective on communication and writing. Analyzing language from an outsiders point of view has given me better analyzing skills with my every day language. I think about my words in a different way, whether it be writing the correct usage of accept vs. except or using then or than. Seeing how every word has it purpose and possible multiple meanings has shown me how to scrutinize my verbiage in a more effective way. I hate to say it, but I learned more about English when I learned Spanish than I did in any English course.
I would love to see the US adopt teaching foreign language at younger ages. So many other countries teach English to elementary aged children. There is much more ease in teaching younger minds.
Spanish definitely offers more perspective on how I view the English language as well. A good example of the complexity of Spanish is in the example of poner. Poner means to put on, to take upon oneself, to turn on, to set up, to become, etc. This multiplicity of meaning causes me to think more about the English language and language in general as a series of building blocks. It also helps me pay closer attention to word choice in my essay writing.
As far as adopting foreign language classes for younger students, how would that affect the educational system? How would it benefit students to adopt a foreign language at a young age?
Learning a second language, even if you never use it outside of the classroom has so many benefits. As already noted, becoming familiar with a different language makes us more familiar with our own as we learn the similarities and differences between the two. I have heard many of my friends who are Christian Ministry majors say they learned more about English grammar when they were taking Greek! I have experienced this personally myself as well as I have learned Spanish and Chinese (not fluently!). I have also noted that I have a greater appreciation for my own language after I have learned other languages.
There is also so much culture in language. Even if I never go to a country I feel that I have a sense of what that country and its people are like if I have learned their language. Learning a foreign language is a huge step in breaking the barriers of xenophobia and racism. Some of us may, intentionally or not, ignore the many minorities around us. We see that they are speaking another language or eating a different type of food and we just move on. Since I have learned Chinese, I have switched that habit from avoiding to engaging, always with positive results. People are so surprised when I come up to them and ask where they are from in China IN CHINESE. That is about the extent of what I can say, but it goes an incredibly long way.
How would you explain to someone how you can learn more about English through another language? I think people have a difficult time seeing the concrete applications of another language when they have never taken a foreign language before, or when they have taken one and do not try to cross this language and cultural barrier to see the deeper connections.
Visiting another country after you have taken about 8 years of that country’s language is fascinating. I went to Spain this past summer, and the language truly does describe who the Spaniards are as a people group. English embodies who we are as Americans; it catches the flavor of various accents, describes the intricacies of American lifestyles, and creates idioms of American citizens. Seeing that replicated in Spain gave even more purpose to the Spanish language.
I also agree that language creates more equality and respect between those of different cultures. How can we extend this respect to students of different cultures without learning their language?