Mandatory Foreign Language Classes

Mandatory Foreign Language Classes To communicate with others in another language is crucial, especially with our ever-changing society. The amount of immigration is increasing immensely nevertheless; the job market is becoming more competitive. As citizens of the United States, we need to be able to efficiently communicate with international clients, and to do so, another language should be required. The problem is most Americans don’t know a second language, consequently this negatively affects their futures making it difficult to communicate and interact with people, especially with the growing number of immigrants in the United States. A mandated foreign language class would benefit and better prepare citizens socially, academically,
There are three main areas where a student can excel by knowing a second language. The first is mentally. According to Viorica Marian, being bilingual can help a student “to better process information in the environment, leading to a clearer signal for learning,” (“The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual” Marian). Cognitive and sensory processes can improve as well. Because of this, bilingual students have been known to have an easier time accessing newly learned words, giving them a more extensive vocabulary than monolingual students. Not only does knowing a second language help a person cognitively, but also socially. A bilingual person has an easier time connecting with people from other cultures; accordingly, they have a better understanding of culture and how others differ from their own. This is especially important because immigration rates in the United States are growing rapidly. Also, being proficient in a language before interacting with a foreign speaker can help break an initial language barrier, allowing the two people to connect on a deeper level. A third benefit of being multilingual is having a greater advantage career wise. The world is becoming more advanced in technology, allowing for an expansion to foreign countries for a business. This creates a higher demand for multilingual people to translate documents, conduct
Overall being bilingual is beneficial for people, for cognitive, learning purposes, social assets and career advantages. The one and only issue standing in the way is, schools in America aren’t making this a mandatory class. Making this a mandated class will give students in the northeastern Colorado area a preeminent advantage in their education and eventually their future jobs. Making a foreign language a requirement will make American students’ educations similar to those in other countries, whose students excel in globalized jobs. It will also help Americans working overseas or for a business dealing with clients globally. Ordinarily, learning a foreign language is a great exploration of knowledge, creativity, and growth. In our interconnected world today, only good can come of mandating a foreign language in American