In my experience as both a soon to be teacher as well as a student, I have noticed that in American Society as well as the majority of schools systems that learning a foreign language is not something that is looked at to be important. In America where one is constantly surrounded by people of different nationalities under many different circumstances (ex: work, school, out in public, etc.) , it would seem that the knowledge as well as the teaching of a foreign language would be crucial in society. This is not the case. Many school systems in America do not start the instruction of a foreign language until middle school. Some school systems do not even make it mandatory to learn one at all. This is a real problem especially in comparison to Europe where it is mandatory to study a foreign language at a very young age. I feel that the U.S should do the same because it would make the world in which we live in much easier, being able to understand a whole other group of people. It also stimulates the minds of young children and gets them to think outside the box. Therefore, it is forcing them to utilize a whole new set of critical thinking skills they would normally not be made to use until the age of 13.
Danielle, thanks for the thoughts. Any ideas on how technology could be a tool in helping to remedy this?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100 percent Danielle. It's sad that Americans don't realize the value of foreign languages when most of the rest of the world seems to. Who wouldn't want to be able to communicate with more people around the world?? The fact that foreign language classes are continuing to be taken out of school is also very concerning to me. Doesn't the government realize that we will need foreign language speakers to assist America in the future?? I could rant on this for HOURS. Great blog entry!
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