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Why studying a foreign language is necessary We do not live in a bubble here in Columbia, although it seems like it sometimes. We live in the world, not just the town. - SHAWNA WOLFORD By Shawna Wolford Personal commentary I have been hearing on a daily basis how taking a foreign language in high school is unnecessary. Many people who support the hiring of yet another agriculture teacher have been saying that learning a second language is silly. In their words, "we are Americans, why should we have to learn other languages? The reason I am posting here on ColumbiaMagazine is because I cannot understand why this has to keep coming up. My children have to keep hearing how their ideas and goals are not as important as the supporters of agriculture classes and how if they speak their own ideas they are somehow not supporting the farmers in our area. This is ridiculous. There are many children in our area who understand the importance of learning another language. Taking a foreign language class is not simply because the state requires it for the diploma that gets them into college. Taking a foreign language class gives the students a look at other cultures and how they live. We do not live in a bubble here in Columbia, although it seems like it sometimes. We live in the world, not just the town. When our children go to college, they will be immersed in situations with many others cultures. Children who study foreign languages acquire the abilities to do much more than simply be able to speak another language. It is true than many of us who took a foreign language cannot speak that language now, but there is more to this. Studies have shown that children who study foreign languages (not children who speak foreign languages) are more apt to "see the world from two or more perspectives" and "have the cognitive diversity needed to formulate innovative solutions to complex problems" (Fost, 2012). Isn't that the heart of the issues this town, this state, this country, this entire world are dealing with right now? Today's complex problems and obviously not seeing the world from any other perspective but their own are definitely at least part of the issues in our town. Does anyone ever take a step back and see that the state requires a foreign language for the college diploma for a reason? It is not just to irritate those who do not like the idea of learning another language, it is required because there has been study after study that proves how studying a foreign language improves cognitive skills as well as our children's abilities to look outside of themselves and see other cultures for what they are...part of our world. Even though I support the hiring of a foreign language teacher in our high school, I do see the other side. I see how one might worry that not hiring one teacher would eventually result in the not hiring or cutting of other teachers in agriculture. I can see how this is a scary idea. But for today, the issue at hand, which is simply hiring a foreign language teacher to better support those students who are in need, those worries have to be put aside for now. My children have goals just like those who are in the agriculture classes. My children deserve the chance to be supported by their high school so that they can achieve those goals. Here are some others studies and their findings supporting the study of a foreign language (The Benefits Of Second Language Study, 2007):
- Fost, D. (2012). How Global Language Learning Gives Students the Edge . Retrieved from edutopia.org--Shawna Wolford This story was posted on 2012-08-24 17:17:15
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