Research Proposal: Foreign Language Education
Foreign languages have always been a part of education, even before the era of globalization. With globalization well established today, why is it that foreign languages are being reduced instead of encouraged in today’s education system? Upon searching the internet, it is a bit difficult to access many articles, essays, or other scholarly writings which denounce the instruction of foreign languages, but upon closer inspection of blog sites, social networking sites, and other less formal internet media, more xenophobic opinions can be found in multitude. According to a poll on helium.com, an online forum designed for these kind of debates, of 2037 respondents (current as of August 3, 2011) 65% (1327 votes) voted that foreign language should be required in public schools, while 35% (700 votes) disagreed. But the disagreement doesn’t end here. On Facebook.com, there are multiple fan-pages that are centered on this debate, such as “WE SPEAK ENGLISH IN AMERICA,” “We Are In America, Speak English,” and countless other pages that have this mono-cultural sentiment, the latter with more than 18000 fans. What significance does this information have?
With our nation’s debt topping $14 Trillion (current as of August 3rd, 2011), and our national test scores dropping significantly in core subjects like Reading, Math, and Science, foreign language programs are becoming victims of budget cuts all across the country. As budgets are becoming tighter for public schools everywhere, foreign language programs are being significantly reduced, or even removed altogether. But is removing these programs helping the country as a whole, or is it actually keeping the United States further behind in international markets?
Some argue that cutting funding to foreign language programs may help us meet our current budgetary needs, and this is definitely true, but will it be a worthwhile budget cut in the long run? Even though some may argue that this money is best spent raising national test scores in core subjects like Math, Science, and Reading, others contend that foreign language skills are just as important, if not more so, to a student’s ability to find his way into the international marketplace. One supporter of this view, Emily Jiggins, who teaches French and Spanish in Wales, asserts that “without advanced linguistic capability, our children are shooting themselves out of the International business market. That is to say, our children painfully lag behind the rest of Europe in terms of linguistic competence and cultural understanding. How many globalised businesses are willing to accept students without the basic skills covered from learning a language?” (Jiggins) . According to her statement, the emphasis of foreign language in other school systems across the globe leaves students in the United States relatively unqualified to tackle the needs of globalised companies; these needs include multi-cultural communication skills, presentation skills, the ability to overcome language barriers, and cultural awareness. (Jiggins) Without these skills, which are essential to any international trade, American students are becoming less and less appealing to international firms looking to increase cross-cultural efficiency. So why then, in the face of this brutally simple logic, do some people continue to argue against foreign language in public schools?
When the question of foreign language programs arises, there are often mixed opinions, but why? Even when the importance of foreign language in international trade is explained, some truly do not see the value in funding these programs in public schools. This under-appreciation for foreign language courses ultimately stems from the fact that Americans believe that most of the world can speak English. With this in mind, they begin to wonder why they should bother spending time learning another language. Because of English’s use as a standard language in international organizations like the United Nations, the European Union, and international business organizations across the world, foreign languages are often introduced to American students either too late, or too little. Why not introduce foreign languages in schools effectively? Because it is believed that foreign languages are not absolutely essential to dealing internationally.
Since English is both the native language of most Americans and a standard language for most international organizations, Americans feel that learning another language is a waste of time and effort. It is a repetitious cycle in which one belief has consequences which cause the other, which in turn leads back to the other. The fact that foreign language programs are fighting to survive, especially in a time when we have to fight to stay a global competitor in the business sector, is a frightening thing to think about. At a time when America’s debts are rising, by cutting out foreign language programs, we are slowly shutting ourselves out of international competition. If Americans are so worried about international business opportunities, then all of America must be willing to put aside its ego, and learn foreign languages so as to ensure the ability to maintain its competitive edge.
So, in my essay I will further explain the importance of foreign language education in preparing American students for global trade, or work in globalised companies. I will also explain the difficulties that foreign language programs are struggling to overcome in the American education system, as well as in society today. I will point out the main arguments against foreign language programs, and how they are not correct. I have found research articles from trade journals, case studies of foreign language programs in regard to funding and student engagement, as well as official studies by the Department of Education. I will use these sources to highlight foreign language’s relevance to today’s international economy, America’s place in the economy today, and how the popular opinions about foreign language education are keeping America from staying internationally competitive.
Works Cited
McMurtrie, Beth. "Coalition Calls for Increased Federal Spending on Foreign-Language Instruction." The Chronicle of Higher Education 53.20 (2007): A.38-A38. ProQuest Research Library. Web. 4 Aug. 2011.
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