The Need for Language Competency in an Interconnected World

In the increasing interconnectedness of the world, it is apparent that technology has made communication more fast and efficient. There is a great need for all American citizens becoming competent in various foreign languages. It's only the United States which has remained the only industrialized country upon which students graduates from high school lacking credit in the foreign language. By the time a number of the students commence the second language in middle school at the age of 14, it is mainly too late for them becoming very proficient in the second language. It is worth to note that only ten states that demand some category of second language credits to graduate from high school. This is different from many countries in Europe where children commence learning the second language at the age of 6-9 years and in some cases, at three years old. There is a need for incorporating stronger foreign language program in the American student's system of education. Learning a second language stand to become increasingly critical in the modern world of close interconnectivity (Garcia 152). America stands to benefit from the aspect of emphasizing foreign languages which booster economic wellbeing and job possibilities, creation of cosmopolitan citizens besides provision of cognitive along with personal benefits to the respective student.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Mandarin Chinese, French, Latin, American Sign Language, German, Italian, and Japanese are some of the critical foreign languages that ought taught to the American's student (Garcia 628). In the contemporary world of technological advancement and development, knowing other language is indispensable in the job market. Business and companies have a natural desire for expanding their current networks. Fluency in a various language tends to give an edge to any resume demonstrating to employers the capability of conversely with a diverse group of people. Learning foreign languages enables students to explore, thereby bettering understanding of different culture (Duff 22). The increased access to the communities' networks across the globe remains cut short that lacks the language background of the involved culture. Learning a foreign language facilitates a better understanding of the culture via the provision of the ways of interacting with locals. Thus, in that way, breaking the initial barrier of language, holding people from engaging fully with one another. There are numerous benefits associated with a cultural awareness of various categories of people, and the effects stand to be immeasurable. Leaning foreign language facilitates cross-cultural communication besides opening doors to the entire people's network that were not available before (Despagne 14). Foreign languages facilitate the exchange of the cultural practices and norms, the aspects of furthering American students' education concerning life different from the life used is critical. It is paramount to be having cosmopolitan citizens, particularly in the U.S. in that way, creating a real melting pot society (Despagne 14). The fact remains that traveling to foreign countries, attempting to learn or knowing a given local language demonstrates the respects concerning other culture. Other culture maybe Chinese culture, Japanese culture, and so on.

In addition to the economic and cultural benefits, there is relevant research demonstrating exponential cognitive as well as personal benefits associated with learning different selected foreign languages. In the standardized test culture, Elementary students studying foreign language scored higher test reading math together with language arts. Individuals who have learned a foreign language demonstrates more significant development of cognitive in regards to creativity, mental flexibility, reasoning, conceptualizing, and problem-solving. Enabling students to learn foreign languages at their earlier stages allows numerous of such skills often neglected emphasized in the system of education. It is equally imperative to note that acquiring the second language demands an entirely different way of learning in that way fostering creativity in the learning environment. A case in point is that learning the second language comprises of various activities that include talking fluently with classmates. It also involves being able to effectively watch movies from multiple cultures, writing short stories as well as interacting in games (Duff 22).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the reality of the matter is that in the present interconnectedness world, it can be considered a disadvantage not to learn at least one of the above mentioned foreign languages. The bottom line is that in all aspects of the employment, the selected foreign languages enables students to be more culturally aware in that way reaping benefits concerning cosmopolitan citizenship. Again learning the foreign languages benefits the individuals in various aspects of cognitive besides enhancing one's life. No reason learning foreign languages should not be emphasized in the American's education system. Especially the following foreign languages including Mandarin Chinese, French, Latin, American Sign Language, German, Italian, and Japanese should be prioritized in that way presenting the American's student to higher levels of exposure across the globe.

Works Cited

Despagne, Colette. ""Language Is What Makes Everything Easier": The Awareness of Semiotic Resources of Mexican Transnational Students in Mexican Schools." International Multilingual Research Journal 13.1 (2019): 1-14.

Duff, Patricia A. "Social dimensions and processes in second language acquisition: Multilingual socialization in transnational contexts." The Modern Language Journal 103 (2019): 6-22.

Garcia, Ofelia. "DECOLONIZING FOREIGN, SECOND, HERITAGE, AND FIRST LANGUAGES." Decolonizing Foreign Language Education: The Misteaching of English and Other Colonial Languages (2019): 152.

Garcia, Ofelia. "Reflections on Turnbull's reframing of foreign language education: bilingual epistemologies." International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism 22.5 (2019): 628-638.