Foriegn Language Requirements: A valuable class for all
I feel that this question has two answers for me. As a student of the COLA here at UNH, I believe that foreign language requirements follow the philosophy that a well rounded education that includes exposure to a variety of subjects is pivotal to learning and development in one's own field of study.Since I am a French language Major, the equivalent of my "foreign language requirement" might be having to take statistics, similar to a philosophy Major taking a Spanish class. Both ventures outside one's comfort zone provide opportunities to expand one's academic perspective, and perhaps to learn serendipitously about your own subject through new subject matter. So, yes, as a part of a Liberal Education, I believe foreign languages should be a requirement, for the same reasons that all "Gen Eds" are beneficial, no matter how much they may be found trivial to one's major.
On the other hand, should a Engineering major be required to take a language? They aren't a part of a "liberal" education system; their classes are systematically designed to move them towards a specific skill set and a career, much unlike the other "liberal" majors. To an engineer, such a requirement could be considered an unnecessary expense, a distraction, a GPA ruin-er... But once again the argument could be made that it is beneficial to learn a language as a part of one's life-skill set. Languages are a little different than other "Gen Eds," they not only expose one to other subject matters, they provide a valuable life/careers skill, communication. Being able to exchange with other humans more readily, one obvious benefit of learning a second language is undeniably helpful to any career, the obtaining of which of course is the goal of any Major at University. The foreign language requirement is not just an eye-opening experience, something that is perhaps irrelevant to one's major, like taking a Nutrition class as a Physics major, it's a skill that can be used in all realms.
In conclusion: All college students should be required to take a foreign language: Either as a part of a intellectually expanding liberal education, or as an highly valuable communication skill that is integral to success in all fields.
You made some very good points here. It is very good to venture outside of your comfort zone, which I think learning a language does fro everyone even if it is something you like just because no matter what you'll make mistakes. As for people outside of a Liberal Arts program, I still think it'd be good for them to at least take 1 semester of another language because they do still have a chance of working internationally. At least then they would be somewhat exposed to something foreign before hand.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that taking a language can be an eye-opening, horizon-broadening experience. Knowing a second language is a valuable skill no matter what your career is, but does a two semester requirement necessarily give somebody that skill? I would argue no. While I do think that the engineer who is looking to work on projects abroad should absolutely be interested in learning the language spoken where they are working, I do not think that every engineering student should be required to take a foreign language. As you mentioned, their course of study is far more narrowly focused than liberal arts students. On the other hand, a liberal arts student absolutely should be taking at least one language - the job prospects are too nebulous these days for somebody not to take advantage of having a well-rounded education that includes a foreign language. If only we could also require/afford some kind of study abroad experience to be coupled with that language study!
ReplyDeleteI really like your comments related to how studying a foreign language is valuable in that it brings students out of their comfort zones. I especially like your comment that discusses how, as language students, taking a class in statistics or physics may be an option to move us out of our own comfort zones, and therefore make for a well-rounded, liberal education. On the other hand, Seb's comment related to the reality of attaining real communicative skills in just two semesters is quite interesting. As a Spanish 401 instructor, I feel as though I cover quite a lot of material in just one class session, but at the same time know that, at the end of the year, my students likely will not feel prepared to go out in the "real world" and communicate with ease. They will probably be able to access some information in the target language, and make themselves relatively understood when conversing with native speakers, but I seriously doubt that such a basic level of language instruction will enable them to speak/use Spanish in a more professional or academic setting. Given the idea that a year of Spanish may not be of much practical use to those who do not plan to continue with further language coursework, part of me wonders, as mentions Seb, if another type of eye-opening, cultural experience would work similarly well with regards to pushing students outside of their comfort zones. Perhaps a seminar-style class, that focuses on a somewhat narrow topic related to a given foreign culture would force students to think critically about the realities of others and thereby expand their world view.
ReplyDeletei agree with your point that it can push students out of their comfort zones
ReplyDelete