Tomar una clase de una lengua extranjera es muy beneficioso para todas las personasdelmundo. For those readers who cannot speak Spanish, taking a foreign language class is extremely beneficial for everyone around the world. Requiring students to take a foreign language course- whether it be French, Chinese or Spanish- will broaden their outlook on life, foster intellectual growth, prepare them for the future and expand their cultural horizons. Because many high school students drop foreign language courses after a year or two, schools should require students to complete four years of language classes.
According to the World Bank and World Development Indicators, there are over 6,840,507,000 people worldwide who speak over 6,500 languages. According to a government-financed survey in The New York Times, thousands of public schools have stopped teaching foreign languages over the last decade. By making foreign language a mandatory class requirement, schools will ensure that their students are well-prepared for the future. Foreign language classes should begin in elementary school and remain a mandatory requirement throughout high school to allow students to better communicate with others from around the world.
“Americans today are not culturally aware. There are statistics and percentages that show the number of foreigners inAmericais rising and will continue to rise,” said junior Cheyenne Watts. “It is necessary to be able to speak another language to adapt to that change.”
The primary purpose of an education is to prepare students for their working lives. Knowing a second language helps students develop communication skills that are often a crucial asset in any workplace. Many jobs involve connections between multiple countries, and employees who are able to speak more than one language have a better chance of moving quickly up the career ladder. Working as a translator, language teacher, advertiser or even as an actor, singer or writer also requires the knowledge of more than a single language.
“[Language classes] can definitely make a difference in getting a job, depending upon how fluently one speaks the language,” said Benner. “It is equally as important to be able to write the language well in many professions.”
If children begin to learn another language at an early age, they will be able to communicate more effectively than students who do not take a language class until high school. A long-term study of a foreign language will allow students to practice their communication skills and fully complete the learning process. Continuing mandatory language through high school will ensure that the language skills students gain in elementary classes are not lost as they grow older.
“Learning a language at an early age helps prepare students to succeed in their language classes at the university level. It also helps them to be more considerate of cultural differences throughout their lives,” said Benner.
Furthermore, students who study a foreign language have the opportunity to access works of literature and science that are not offered in English. This ability expands their opportunities for intellectual advancement in college and throughout their careers. They are also able to extend their knowledge of the writings and history of other cultures by traveling around the world on various academic programs. Students who travel to foreign countries gain knowledge of different cultures and experience new and thrilling adventures that would not be possible at home. These programs often instill students with a newfound sense of independence and teach them valuable life skills.
Students who have mastered another language have a stronger appreciation of the beauty and history of the countries they visit. Students will have more enjoyable travel experiences if they understand the native speakers and quickly adapt to their new surroundings. Speaking the language and understanding the culture of another country will influence students to become more tolerant towards ethnicities that are different from their own.
“People everywhere are much more accepting of you if you show an interest in their language, their community and their way of life,” said Benner. “If you make the effort to talk with them in their native tongue, it opens their hearts to share more with you.”
Mandatory foreign language classes will guarantee that students are able to compete effectively in the modern world. Increasing trends of globalization indicate that fluency in several languages is a vital tool in society. Requiring these classes provides students with a competitive edge when they begin their working lives and teaches them to value other cultures.
