Americans are notoriously monolingual. The United States Census Bureau reports that as of 2009, only 20 percent of Americans spoke a language other than English at home. By contrast, the 2012 Eubarometer Report indicates that 25 percent of Europeans are trilingual.
Why is America, which began as a “melting pot,” so linguistically homogenous? Most Americans are exposed to a second language in the form of multiple years of language classes at the high school and/or college level. But according to CIA Director Leon Panetta, the United States may be the only nation in the world where it is possible to complete high school and college without any foreign language study – let alone without mastering of another language. I believe that is the reason for our cultural mindset.
To many of us, learning a foreign language is something to check off a graduation checklist or put on a resume. I would urge people not to think of language simply as an academic subject. A foreign language is a new way of thinking. Language learning has benefits for the individual. It enables a person to gain a new perspective, learn a valuable skill, and even decrease their risk of getting Alzheimer’s, according to a research report by Suvarna Alladi published in the journal Neurology. But these are not the only, or even the best reasons to study a language. The ability to communicate with people who are not native English speakers can be a way to invest in and validate them.
At Houghton, there is an Integrative Studies foreign language requirement, which can be fulfilled in multiple ways, according to Houghton’s website. A student can take the standard classroom setting route and complete an intermediate-level class in Spanish, French, German, Greek or Hebrew. If they studied a foreign language in high school for four years, this can fulfill the requirement. Studying abroad is another option; Houghton’s study abroad program in Tanzania program is very popular.
Some students are opposed to having a foreign language requirement because they are not sure it will have any practical application for them, or because it is difficult to fit into their schedule. Some have to take online classes or Mayterms to gain foreign language proficiency. Some students with learning disabilities may have trouble meeting the requirement.
However, I believe that this requirement is good—it can add richness and depth to a liberal arts education. However, everyone learns differently. It would be valuable to allow for focus on the cross-cultural element of language learning rather than on the academic side.
Students should be able to fulfill a language credit in other ways. Journey’s End Tutoring, a volunteer program that interacts with and tutors refugees in Buffalo on Saturday mornings, is definitely a cross-cultural experience. Some students might find this approach more fulfilling and engaging than a classroom experience.
After all, teaching foreign language is meant to get students interested in cultures and peoples besides their own. It should also teach them creative ways to communicate and get them excited about what they’re learning.
Sophomore Alanna Paris, a Spanish major, explains why foreign language is important to her: “Learning a language is not just about thinking a certain aspect of it is ‘cool’ or languages are interesting. It is about people,” Paris said.
She described an experience she had with two kids in Children’s Church who did not speak English, and the frustration she felt at not being able to communicate. “I remember thinking one day I could be the difference that made someone more comfortable in an uncomfortable and lonely situation. Instead of simply seeing a problem and being sad I could help others and make a difference in their lives,” she said.
If you have already fulfilled your Integrative Studies requirement, or do not have time in your schedule for language, consider that taking a class is not the only or even the most valuable way to connect with another culture. Getting to know someone whose first language is not English can be a meaningful cross-cultural experience. Learn from people in small ways, such as becoming familiar with a few words here and there, listening to their stories, and learning to be sensitive to another culture’s nuances. So get to know that person at church who doesn’t speak English, or talk to an international student, or meet and tutor refugees through Journey’s End Tutoring. It will be worth your time.