46 mins ·
Can you share any ideas, reasons, or benefits/drawbacks for studying foreign languages?
What are the challenges and hurdles to acquire them (from daily greetings, to fluency, such as, making a living?)
What are your perception and prediction about Monolingual vs. Multi-lingual trends?
What are your pros and cons to the above question related to the accelerated globalization / internationalization in globlalized mass media, education, Arts, business, politics...and the rest?
Why?
Comments
Crystal LC Huang
Auburn University offers its thoughts – 25 Reasons to Study Foreign Languages
1. Foreign Language study creates more positive attitudes and less prejudice toward people who are
different.
2. Analytical skills improve when students study a foreign language.
3. Business skills plus foreign language skills make an employee more valuable in the marketplace.
4. Dealing with another culture enables people to gain a more profound understanding
of their own culture.
5. Creativity is increased with the study of foreign languages.
6. Graduates often cite foreign language courses as some of the most valuable courses in college
because of the communication skills developed in the process.
7. International travel is made easier and more pleasant through knowing a foreign language.
8. Skills like problem solving, dealing with abstract concepts, are increased
when you study a foreign language.
9. Foreign language study enhances one’s opportunities in government, business, medicine, law,
technology, military, industry, marketing, etc.
10. A second language improves your skills and grades in math and English and
on the SAT and GRE.
11. Four out of five new jobs in the US are created as a result of foreign trade.
12. Foreign languages provide a competitive edge in career choices: one is able to communicate
in a second language.
13. Foreign language study enhances listening skills and memory.
14. One participates more effectively and responsibly in a multi-cultural world
if one knows another language.
15. Your marketable skills in the global economy are improved if you master another language.
16. Foreign language study offers a sense of the past: culturally and linguistically.
17. The study of a foreign tongue improves the knowledge of one’s own language:
English vocabulary skills increase.
18. The study of foreign languages teaches and encourages respect for other peoples: it fosters an
understanding of the interrelation of language and human nature.
19. Foreign languages expand one’s view of the world, liberalize one’s experiences, and make one
more flexible and tolerant.
20. Foreign languages expand one’s world view and limit the barriers between people: barriers cause
distrust and fear.
21. Foreign language study leads to an appreciation of cultural diversity.
22. As immigration increases we need to prepare for changes in the American society.
23. One is at a distinct advantage in the global market if one is as bilingual as possible.
24. Foreign languages open the door to art, music, dance, fashion, cuisine, film, philosophy, science...
25. Foreign language study is simply part of a very basic liberal education: to “educate” is to lead out,
to lead out of confinement and narrowness and darkness.
Crystal LC Huang As to me, learning foreign languages to prevent Alzheimer disease from happening too early
!
Like · Reply · 25 mins · Edited
Crystal LC Huang I was luckily enough to be hired after 92 years' of my current school's establishment - the 2nd minority faculty and the first non-native English speaker of the school of 260+ educators, in 2003.
Like · Reply · 2 mins · Edited
Crystal LC Huang Many researches, in particular, socio-linguistic studies provide perception, evaluation, potential biases/prejudices (both explicit and implicit/hidden), and the academic environments of students and staff toward native-English speakers/educators vs. non-Native English speakers/educators. This strand of study resonates part of my life in the US, and is very fascinating and invaluable. I am one of the few endowed with such a privilege to fully experience it.
