More Foreign Languages Should be taught in Schools

?مرحبا. كيف حالك?Your face suddenly falls into a state of depression, confusion and anger as you walk into the foreign airport. This is your first time in the country of your dreams. You walk in with your head up, back straight, carry on bag over your shoulder and an Arabic- English book in your hand. It may just be the airport but already you smell the new smells, and are curiously looking out the windows to see an array of amazing landscapes, and wonders of ancient and unique architecture. People swarm around you, who seem so fascinatingly different with the way they dress and express themselves. Blindly walking you absorb the splendor to make your way to the baggage claim to retrieve your luggage and start your adventure, only to find that to your distress, you cannot read any of the signs. You turn trying to find someone to ask, but even as you do it seems that those free online courses definitely did not prepare you enough for the fast rapid-fire pronouncing of their dialect, and you stumble off in the direction your guide first pointed you to. The fact is simply that not nearly enough foreign languages are offered in schools. If we were to offer more foreign languages we could reduce the frustration and embarrassment when it comes to traveling to foreign countries when you are perhaps older or on study abroad, improve foreign relations, and give students more exciting options for foreign languages requirements and to get them more excited about visiting foreign countries.

Whether you are a seasoned traveler or a student on their first study abroad trip to a foreign country, you have probably had to deal with what it feels like to not be able to communicate as freely as you had wished in a different country. Schools tend to teach only Spanish, French, Chinese, and if you’re lucky, German. However, I know that personally I would love to go to countries that did not speak these languages. One professional states that, “Being able to speak another person’s language is a critical skill, especially as increased travel opportunities, satellite programming, and international use of the internet have begun to create a truly global community.”

Learning a foreign language is impressive, and it shows that you are willing to take the time and effort to be able to communicate with the people who live in that country. Foreign relations would definitely improve in countries such as the Middle East if people/students were given the opportunity to start learning the languages in Junior High so they could have been learning the language for six years. Research has proven that students who are immersed in foreign languages have “outstanding communication skills, both written and oral.” Students can also learn the cultural side of the countries who speak that language, reducing some of the tension that is created when you do something that is not against their culture. The problem with introducing these languages into schools may simply be that it is too expensive and hard to find teachers who have the capability to speak these languages. Also, in the Chinese/ American teacher exchange program you may have a new teacher every year. As a student who has had to undergo that change I will say that it is very stressful. You have a new teacher who doesn’t know what you have already been taught, making taking that class seem totally pointless. My solution to the problem would simply be to hire one permanent foreign language teacher in that subject, and have a set course. It would still be expensive to hire that many teachers, but if less of the education money were to go into the administrative portion of education, sports, or clubs with few students and excessive money, we could have the money to get more foreign languages, which all in all would help students. Some steps have already been taken. In 2006 President Bush helped to form the National Security Language Initiative agency which is helping the United States to increase the number of Americans learning foreign languages.

Let’s face it, the requirements to get into a decent college have heightened and for scholarships you almost have to have taken a foreign language class. Not to mention a study was taken of 17,000 college students. It was proven that the students who were enrolled in foreign languages had higher scores on the ACT, and SAT college entrance exams. If students were given more options for foreign languages, more students might actually take them, where an estimated 58.4 percent of high school students are not currently enrolled. It would also give students a better chance of getting higher paying jobs and a better probability of being promoted. While it may be said that not enough students take the already offered languages, they may if they are actually given the option of languages that truly interest them. More research shows that 50 percent of students drop out of their language class on the way to their next level. More interest in a language could prevent this major dropout rate. Also, smaller class sizes, that could be created by students taking different languages, generally are created by students who actually want to excel in that specific language, making it easier for individuals and groups to excel.

Foreign languages in school will help more students be able to get better scholarships, educations and careers. It would improve foreign relations by showing that you care about that country enough to have teenagers and even adults trying to learn how to communicate better with you, and it might encourage other countries to do the same. They can then also understand the cultural side of that country, which would reduce the amount of conflicts. It would also be less embarrassing for travelers and make your trips more enjoyable and not focused on the stress of trying to communicate in a seemingly unknown language.
Works Cited:
"Benefits of Foreign Language Education." Public School Review. Public School Review . 2003-2011. Web. 1 Jan. . .

"Why Study a Foreign Language?." Washington State University. Web. 1 Jan. 2011. .