Carolina Spiess Dr.

Freymiller

Persuasive Essay CAS 138T

3/31/2014

Audience: This essay is targeted at the American Department of Education and other school administrators who are in charge of designing the curriculums for schools and universities. It is time to make a change in the curriculum to further improve the American education system. This will lead to better chances in staying a competitive leader in the global world.

Teach America foreign languages

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." This quote by Nelson Mandela shows that speaking the same language does not always hit the right nerve. There is often a lack of empathy to fully comprehend each other. Even if this quote usually means the personal language, learning a foreigners tongue will get you a step closer to speaking their individual and unique language because it offers a wide range of possibilities to recognize multiple perspectives. Knowing only English will not open those doors because it limits your thinking abilities. This is why the U.S. receives a lot of criticism for their one-sided view, which leads to arrogance and ignorance threatening their image as a global leader. Then, there are countries such as China and India, which are expected to rule. Even small nations such as Finland and Germany are predicted to take over a major role in the worlds economic market, why not America? To prove the critics wrong, there is one simple and fast way to do so teach foreign languages! The Department of Education needs to formally endorse a policy that requires every single student to start learning at least one foreign language in primary school for a minimum of six years. Firstly, the United States needs to overcome their stigma of foreign language learning to start the process. Secondly, gaining the knowledge of another tongue will nourish the individuals cognitive skills such as their memorization, their multi-tasking or decision making skills. And lastly, there is great evidence that depicts the beneficial outcome of having learned a foreign language on the professional level.

Carolina Spiess

Persuasive Essay

CAS 138T Dr. Freymiller

All of these points together will profit the individual as well as the nation, which is why the American education system needs remodelling! Education of Foreign Languages First of all, it is important to notice that America does teach foreign languages, however, there is a need for modification. It is not the teachers fault that so many graduates admit learning a different language has no valuable result to them because they can neither speak nor write nor understand it. Why spend so much time, money and effort on acquiring a language without any outcome? One reason that explains the problem is the age when students start learning Spanish or French; students start learning when they attend middle or even secondary school, which is too late to acquire the skills that are needed to master proficiency (Tonkin and Reagen 134). This means that language learning loses its value the later it is taught. When taught so late, students are also unable to communicate because they are never asked to use the language in other social or academic settings where they can actually use it as a tool to interconnect. Another factor that plays a major role is the stigma that Americans have towards bilingualism. Timothy Reagen observed the following among American society: it seems to me that what most Americans believe is that having studied a foreign language is a condition for being an educated person, but that actually being able to speak a foreign language is not (Tonkin and Raegan 135). By that, he means that language learning is only considered as an attribute to appear smarter and to be able to add something on a resume to fulfill a superficial requirement, but there is no actual value in proficiency. In comparison to other countries, the USA lags behind in foreign language instruction. It is interesting to notice that America faced this problem in the 1960s already. Theodore Huebener researched that every non-English speaking country except Japan had foreign language 2

Carolina Spiess

Persuasive Essay

CAS 138T Dr. Freymiller

requirements. Even in countries like Iraq or Ceylon [now Sri Lanka], ten years of foreign language acquisition was mandatory (Huebener). Unfortunately, nothing much has changed. As an article in the Scientific American shows, Many parents would like their children to master a second language, but few kids in this country do. Only 9% of adults in the U.S. are fluent in more than one language. In Europe that figure is closer to 50% (Westly). However, there is hope because of the will to change this. Therefore, it is evident that the US American education model needs modification to catch up with other nations in the world, but also to satisfy the citizens wish to acquire foreign languages. In order to do so, the Department of Education should consider implementing language study at a much younger age by making it a requirement for at least six years to master proficiency. This will also overcome the stigma of foreign language learning to see it as a means of communication in an outside and real-world setting. Nourishment of Cognitive Skills Moreover, when the students learn a foreign tongue at a younger age, there are additional benefits to the individual on a cognitive level. There have been many physiological studies that prove the valuable outcomes of bilingualism that counter the previous argument of bilingualism creating confusion. The truth is, polyglots often have advantages over their monolingual fellows. It is important to notice that the brain acts like a muscle, which means that there is a positive correlation between its practice and its function. Learning a foreign tongue is therefore one of the best workouts we can offer the brain to stay healthy and active due to the acquisition of vocabulary. This leads to a greater portion of grey matter, which means that the brain will be able to work faster and more efficiently (Chau). It improves the functionality of the brain by challenging it to recognise, negotiate meaning, and communicate in different language systems (Merritt). Simply, we stay fit and healthy by training our brain to learn a different language. 3

Carolina Spiess

Persuasive Essay

CAS 138T Dr. Freymiller

Furthermore, the individual will develop more advanced multi-tasking skills by exercising the brain to switch in different language systems. Research conducted by the Pennsylvania State University supported this thesis; they let monolingual and bilingual people use a driving simulator while completing several tasks at the same time. The outcome showed that the bilingual participants had stronger driving skills because of their ability to switch their attention so rapidly (Swayne). Swayne also mentions that this leads to advanced abilities in prioritizing more important tasks and in working on multiple projects at a time. Likewise, a study from the University of Chicago revealed information about bilinguals making more rational decisions. When people speak in a language other than their native tongue, it helps eliminate our tendency toward loss aversion getting too caught up in the here and now to make choices that could profit us further down the road (Woodruff). This makes multilingual individuals more skeptical as they are less influenced by emotional persuasion. All these skills taken together, it is no surprise that multilingual students tend to score better on standardized tests such as the SATs, LSAT or GREs. These tests target their math, reading and writing comprehension skills, which all deal with their knowledge of problem solving and decision-making (Merritt). If we take it even further, there is a higher chance for multilingual scholars to get into better schools and other institutions, which offer them a more privileged education and future. Hence, there is sufficient evidence that proves that multi-linguals have more advanced cognitive skills than their monolingual counterparts. Based on their brain having to switch between two language systems, it will help the individual to juggle between two tasks at the same time; to make more rational decisions because of their great critical thinking skills. Lastly, this results in a more detailed perception of the environment. Students who learn at least one foreign language thus often perform better than their peers who have not. Thus, even if a large portion of 4

Carolina Spiess

Persuasive Essay

CAS 138T Dr. Freymiller

the worlds population speaks English, there is still need for Americans to learn another language besides their native tongue to obtain other skills you only have as a polyglot. Bilinguism in the work world

Taking all of the above points into consideration, it seems clear that languages are muchdesired qualities and criteria for employees, but there are even more advantages that come with the acquisition of foreign languages. It is not just a means to communicate, but also a tool to understand an individuals thinking, behaviour and course of action. Another valuable statement comes from Tonkin:

Language is of course a very personal and very emotional matter. It is one of the primary means whereby we define ourselves, and ourselves in relation to other people. It is also one of the major socially sanctioned devices for public display: appearance matter, affect matters, but perhaps the most effective means of imposing our personality, and also our will, on others, is through the effective deployment of language. (Tonkin and Reagan)

This is exactly what Nelson Mandela meant when saying the quote in the introduction; language gives us identity, which we can only realize if we speak the other persons language. Again, back in the 1960s, the discovery was already made that languages are essential to compete successfully in foreign trade by speaking the tongue of the customer (Huebener). This is why bilingual job applicants are so much more popular and why the U.S. has to catch up with other nations that provide a greater number of multilingual scholars (Uber Grosse).

A study conducted by Christine Uber Grosse demonstrated exactly that. At Thunderbird, The Garvin School of International Management, graduates admitted that foreign language 5

Carolina Spiess

Persuasive Essay

CAS 138T Dr. Freymiller

study gave them valuable cultural knowledge that was not taught in any other subject. What distinguishes Thunderbird from other schools is their requirement to study at least one foreign language for a minimum of four semesters for graduation. One participant summarizes his experience as follows:

Language and cultural skills are mandatory for local acceptance and setting one apart in a foreign setting. Those that do not make an attempt to learn the language are looked down upon not only by the locals, but also by the expatriate community that has taken the time to learn the language and with it, the culture. (Uber Grosse 356)

This is why multilingual business people have a competitive advantage over their fellows because of their ability to understand different perspectives by showing empathy and comprehension.

Another point that benefits foreign language learning is our inability to predict the future. Today, there is a great need for Afghan- and Somali-speaking people because those are the places in need (Huebener). It might be Estonia and Venezuela tomorrow that America wants to trade with, but how can we keep up with our competition, if we are unable to speak Estonian and Spanish? English will not be the most spoken or most important language in the world anymore in a couple of years (Tonkin and Reagen 152f). Other nations already thought about this and are well ahead of America.

Hence, it does not matter how much business experience an individual gains, if the person is able to speak a different tongue, they are able to show empathy, respect and gratitude towards a different culture. Those are qualities needed to be successful and competitive in the global world, which so many other countries already succeed in. 6

Carolina Spiess

Persuasive Essay Conclusion

CAS 138T Dr. Freymiller

In conclusion, there is no other option but to install a foreign language requirement starting in primary school to stay economically competitive in the global market. So many other nations set the example by having successful functioning models that the U.S. has to keep up with. By doing so, it will overcome the stigma that natives have about foreign tongues. It will also act as a stepping-stone for our future generations to have more advanced cognitive skills and they will have stronger decision-making, critical thinking and multi-tasking skills. This will benefit them in standardized testing, as well as in their future business lives. Simultaneously, languages broaden the horizon. This allows viewing multiple perspectives to understand a culture, their people and their way of thinking. As Chinese, Hindi and other languages are picking up fast, it becomes apparent that English will not be the primary and most important language anymore. So, America has to act prepare the future generations to be able to handle cultural differences and encounters by speaking foreign tongues. In respect to Americas history and diversity, it seems simple to enforce foreign language learning because of the pool of tongues there already is. Americas amount of nationalities is one of the largest in the world, why not have the most spoken languages in one country as well? America will be stronger than before because the people will be able to speak each others languages that will go into their hearts instead of their heads!

Carolina Spiess

Persuasive Essay

CAS 138T Dr. Freymiller

Works Cited

Chau, Lisa. "Why You should Learn another Language." U.S.News & World Report 01 2014: 1. ProQuest. Web. 2 Apr. 2014 . Huebener, Theodore. Why Johnny Should Learn Foreign Languages. 1st edition. Philadelphia: Chilton Company, 1961. Print. Merritt, Anne. "Why learn a foreign language? Benefits of bilingualism." Telegraph. (2013): n. page. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationopinion/10126883/Why-learn-a-foreignlanguage-Benefits-of-bilingualism.html>. Swayne, Matt. "Juggling languages can build better brains." Penn State University. Penn State University, 23 02 2011. Web. 5 Apr 2014. <http://news.psu.edu/story/160653/2011/02/18/juggling-languages-can-build-betterbrains>. Tonkin, Humphrey, and Timothy Reagan. Language in the 21st Century. Amsterdam/Philadelphia: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2003. Print. Uber Grosse, Christine. "The Competitive Advantage of Foreign Languages and Cultural Knowledge." Modern Language Journal. 88.3 (2004): ex: 351-373. Web. 2 Apr. 2014. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/3588783?seq=5>. Westly, Erica. "The Bilingual Advantage: Second Language Increases Cognitive Ability." Scientific American. (2011): n. page. Print. 2 Apr. 2014. Woodruff, Mandy. "Here's Why Bilingual People Make Better Financial Choices." Business Insider. (2012): n. page. Web. 5 Apr. 2014. <http://www.businessinsider.com/bilingualpeople-make-better-financial-choices-2012-4>.