<p>What significance does knowing a foreign language have to do for college? It is unlikely we will actually have to use it in our everyday lives.</p>
<p>If you want to do something professional, then you better know more than one language. “Unlikely to use it in our everyday lives”…the kids that colleges look for don’t have everyday lives like everybody else.
Speaking more than one language is also just a general sign of intelligence. That’s why other countries think the US is so stupid…we’re so monolingual.</p>
<p>I don’t see how someone doesn’t see the benefit of knowing another language. This strengthens the argument on Americans being self centered and uninterested in any other culture than themselves. </p>
<p>I’ll provide you with some articles:
[Why</a> Learn a Foreign Language?](<a href=“http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/graduate/liberalarts/departments/languages/why.stj]Why”>http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/graduate/liberalarts/departments/languages/why.stj)
[50</a> Reasons You Should Learn a New Language - Online College.org](<a href=“http://www.onlinecollege.org/2010/07/26/50-reasons-you-should-learn-a-new-language/]50”>50 Reasons You Should Learn a New Language - OnlineCollege.org)</p>
<p>There are many many articles of this nature online. </p>
<p>I don’t see why someone would not want to learn another language; especially, when they’re young and continually learning! In college, there are so many great experiences in college that you can get through studying abroad! I hope I’ll be able to go to Espana and Sudamerica at least twice throughout my four years. I hope to become fluent. And then lean another language. </p>
<p>Speaking in another language is fun! You get to learn about another culture! What’s not cool about that!?</p>
<p>“It is unlikely we will actually have to use it in our everyday lives”</p>
<p>It is unlikely you will use much of anything you learn in high school in your everyday life. If you know how to read and do arithmetic, you’ll be fine for most things.
The question is not, “What does the average person need for their everyday life running the cash register at Burger King?”
The question is, “What do I need to learn to be a well-educated human being?”</p>
<p>This is just my guess, but I think the main reason colleges is require it is because if you didn’t take a foreign language you’d probably be taking something less rigorous - some easy A elective.</p>
<p>apparently statistics show that people who know more languages are also more advanced in some forms of intelligence.</p>
<p>you also tend to learn a bit about other cultures in language classes as well</p>
<p>the idea that you’ll use the lang. in the future in business or something is a lie. English is the international lingua franca. non-English speakers have to learn English to get by in business and international affairs- not the other way around.</p>
<p>
well then the question becomes, why do we need to be well-educated? what does being well-educated imply?</p>
<p>Just because English the lingual Franca does not mean that there isn’t a need for knowing other languages. </p>
<p>
[quote=US Falls Behind in Foreign Language]
It’s very na</p>
<p>“why do we need to be well-educated?”</p>
<p>a) So people can’t take advantage of you as easily.
b) Because knowing about the world is inherently valuable.
c) More knowledge helps you make more intelligent decisions on how to live your life - what religion to follow, for example.
d) Well-educated people are often less prejudiced.</p>
<p>Of course there are more questions you could ask about why it’s good that people not be prejudiced, or why knowledge is inherently valuable, etc.</p>
<p>What does it mean to be well-educated? Well, I don’t know. That’s why I recommended it as a question. Presumably it would include knowing stuff about other cultures and their languages. </p>
<p>Benefits of learning a foreign language:
a) It improves your English skills.
b) You could go live in another country and get a job there, if you wanted.
c) Presumably you’d have a better experience as a tourist in other countries if you could understand what was going on around you.
d) Employers like it.</p>
<p>Because knowing a 2nd language is a valuable skill that will set you apart from the rest in the job market, especially in a monolingual country like the US.</p>
<p>I would like to learn a different language, but I’m interested in learning German or Japanese and they are not offered at my school. I am very interested in Japanese culture. But the only languages offered at my school are French, Spanish, and Italian. Not much of a selection. Right now I’m a sophomore and taking French III.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Lol you actually bought into that lie?</p>
<p>Learning a foreign language in and of itself is probably NOT going to help you get a better job. Learning a foreign language is part of being educated, i.e. being knowledgeable about many different subjects. </p>
<p>As an engineer, I may not need to know the about the French Revolution in my everyday life, but knowing about the French Revolution gives me the context to understand the implications of modern day events, e.g., how a fruit-seller setting himself on fire in Tunisia sparked the Arab Spring and how the Arab Spring affects our foreign policy, economy and national security.</p>
<p>I don’t think being monolingual is the reason Europe thinks we’re stupid. The reason Europe is multilingual is because people come in contact with more languages. In the US, unless you live in south Florida or one of the states bordering Mexico, you’re really only going to come into contact with English.</p>
<p>Also the professional application of another language is overrated. The vast majority of business jobs in the US require only English, and it’s fairly uncommon that knowing another language will help you with your job. </p>
<p>I still support learning another language though. It’s good exercise for the brain. It helps you become more aware of other cultures too.</p>
<p>
exactly. the stereotype that Americans are dumb has a whole lot more to it than being monolingual. besides, there are many monolingual Europeans.</p>
<p>
Ouch. </p>
<p>10char</p>
<p>^Why is that “ouch?”</p>
<p>EDIT: Never mind, I think I figured it out. I’m guessing you live in one of those areas.</p>
<p>@bl4ke360 seems like your buying into the lie that the US will be an anglophone nation forever.</p>
<p>@000 It’s not that I’m from those regions, but basically limiting the languages heard on America to the border…ouch.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of anyone say that before so how could I have bought into it?</p>
<p>I’m interested in the French Revolution and history and current events. I love French history and literature but I could care less about the actual language. I’m more interested in how it has affected other cultures then on memorizing the words and grammer.</p>