Taks 5
Exposition
International Education and Foreign Languages as Crucial Elements of Education in American Society
Learning new languages had always been considered an investment in one’s success. There are various examples of folklore sayings, such as, ‘you are as many times a man, as many languages you speak’ (Slavic proverb), or that you live as many lives as many languages you know (Czeck folk song). These days such opinions can be considered truer than ever. It isn’t just diplomats and interpreters who are obliged to learn languages. In the twenty-first century, the process of globalization has expanded further than ever, and people all over the world are becoming more and more interconnected. Whether one is working for a big international corporation, or frequently travels abroad for leisure, enjoys watching foreign movies with the original soundtrack, or simply wants to widen ones horizons, learning a second, or third language, is always a wonderful decision.
However, while most of the developed and developing world is very keen on learning more than just the native language of their home country, Americans tend to skip this part of education, or learn foreign languages rather perfunctorily. Davidson & Johan, having conducted a country-wide research on the issue, report that only 17.8% of adult Americans, across the country, can fluently speak, and correctly write, in one or more foreign language (2011). This number is extremely low for a developed society. To put this into perspective, 86.1% of Germans, 74% of Swedes and 59.6% of Russians are fluent in at least one foreign language. This number is even higher amongst some of the Asian population. (Rhetorical Pattern: Compare-Contrast)
While Americans also have Spanish, German, French and Japanese classes in their high school and college curricula, the quality of knowledge that American children and teenagers get, is considerably lower. One of the major reasons that researchers cite, is lack of motivation.
International Education and Foreign Languages as Crucial Elements of Education in American Society
Learning new languages had always been considered an investment in one’s success. There are various examples of folklore sayings, such as, ‘you are as many times a man, as many languages you speak’ (Slavic proverb), or that you live as many lives as many languages you know (Czeck folk song). These days such opinions can be considered truer than ever. It isn’t just diplomats and interpreters who are obliged to learn languages. In the twenty-first century, the process of globalization has expanded further than ever, and people all over the world are becoming more and more interconnected. Whether one is working for a big international corporation, or frequently travels abroad for leisure, enjoys watching foreign movies with the original soundtrack, or simply wants to widen ones horizons, learning a second, or third language, is always a wonderful decision.
However, while most of the developed and developing world is very keen on learning more than just the native language of their home country, Americans tend to skip this part of education, or learn foreign languages rather perfunctorily. Davidson & Johan, having conducted a country-wide research on the issue, report that only 17.8% of adult Americans, across the country, can fluently speak, and correctly write, in one or more foreign language (2011). This number is extremely low for a developed society. To put this into perspective, 86.1% of Germans, 74% of Swedes and 59.6% of Russians are fluent in at least one foreign language. This number is even higher amongst some of the Asian population. (Rhetorical Pattern: Compare-Contrast)
While Americans also have Spanish, German, French and Japanese classes in their high school and college curricula, the quality of knowledge that American children and teenagers get, is considerably lower. One of the major reasons that researchers cite, is lack of motivation.