Learning Foreign Languages in the USA
by Ryan Crawley
Are you thinking of learning a foreign language? You might want to consider the information that follows. English is considered the unofficial universal language with over 70 countries using it as their native tongue. However, it is not the only popular language. Chinese and Spanish are up there high in the ranking as well with hundreds of millions of speakers each.
According to a 2001 Gallup news poll, about 25 percent of adults living in the United States speak a foreign language. On the other hand, in the European Union, it is quite common to speak two or more languages fluently. According to the Center for Applied Linguistics based out of Washington, D.C., foreign language instruction is on the rise. A 2008 study showed that 25 percent of U.S. elementary schools are offering foreign language instruction. Also according to a national study, about 93 percent of all high schools in the U.S. offer foreign language classes. Most of the languages being studied are Spanish, French, German, and Chinese.
There are numerous reasons why people would learn a foreign language. Some of the more popular ones are listed below.
Identifying with Multiple Cultures
When someone is learning a second language, they are also learning about the culture that goes along with it. They learn the culture’s history along with its location. In addition, they come to understand the culture’s viewpoints and can identify with them.
According to research from Northwestern University, bilingual children have lower levels of social stress which has to do with the ability to understand and accept the multiple cultures which come along with learning multiple languages. This ability to have a multicultural understanding is what sets bilingual children apart from someone who has not fluently learned a second language.
The Coolness Factor
Learning a foreign language will not turn you into the Fonz, but it is a good start. Being able to speak another language is similar to being able to play an instrument. There is a sense of art involved that impresses other people and garners respect.
Communication and Globalization
By speaking a foreign language, you are able to communicate with even more of the world’s population. In the business world especially, this skill can become invaluable with bilingual employees earning 5 to 20 percent more. As more and more businesses become global because of the internet, bilingual employees are in demand. Be sure to put down this skill on your resume.
Travel
When deciding where to go on vacation, the majority of people do not want to choose a place where they can’t speak the native language. And who can blame them. It can be uncomfortable to travel around a foreign land without being able to speak their tongue. Plus, if there happens to be an emergency, your life or the lives of your family may depend on being able to communicate effectively with strangers. People that are bilingual have more of the world open to them, and they can acquire many more experiences in the process.
Healthier
Learning another language does not mean that you can stop exercising, but it does mean that maybe your cognitive skills are better off. There are studies that show a bilingual person’s brain behaves differently where their attention spans are better and their memory holds up longer. In addition, researchers have discovered that there is evidence being bilingual can delay dementia and Alzheimer’s.
