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The Imperative of Learning Languages
Colleges around the country are crippling an essential part of global understanding: learning foreign languages. Dr. Michael Poliakoff writes in the Buffalo News, "Foreign language study is the foundation for humanistic study and true multicultural understanding. And foreign language instruction prepares students to navigate the volatile global job market." America has a compelling need to effectively compete on the international stage. Valuable interpersonal skills overseas begin with the ability to speak the language. Entrepreneurs and salespeople who cannot read the trade magazines of the nations with whom they do business will never be as successful as those who can. The diplomatic implications of linguistic ignorance are yet worse.
Dr. Poliakoff outlines two ways colleges can afford to keep their foreign language programs. The first is to work together and share resources. The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education offers a great example. Campuses in the State System use interactive video to share instruction among low-enrollment but academically important programs. Such cost-effective strategies make more sense than eliminating valuable programs, and raising tuition is not a reasonable option as families struggle to make ends meet.
The second strategy he suggests is to eliminate fluff courses. Some programs being maintained in preference to foreign languages do not provide much cognitive growth to students. As Dr. Poliakoff noted, "recent studies by the Social Science Research Council suggest that two favorite academic programs, teacher education and communication, do little to increase students' overall problem-solving abilities."
China, Brazil, India and many other nations are rapidly developing, and their influence on the worldwide economy grows daily. Americans must be better educated and more familiar with the rest of the world. Foreign language programs help our acquaintance so we do not pay a price in economic strength and diplomacy. And, indeed, in basic understanding of humankind and civilization. C'est la vie!
Posted by Jose Herrera on December 21, 2010 at December 21, 2010 05:04 PM
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