Erin Kurtz
Issue: Students do not feel that Foreign Language courses
are necessary.
Claim: Our world is growing smaller and ever more
interconnected. Language study is needed in order for us to branch out and
broaden our horizons and understand the world around us and the role we play
with in it.
Introduction:
In High School I took three foreign
languages: German, Chinese, and Japanese. And in each class I dealt with
complaints from other students regarding the two year language requirement at
our school. I graduated from High School with eight language credits, four
times the honors requirement. Besides this, I was friends with students from
all over the world (Bosnia, Germany, China, Korea, etc.) leading me to learn
more in depth about so many more countries, cultures, and languages. At first I
didn't recognize how much all of this was changing my views, but now as I look
back I can see the effect that such a variety of culture had on my outlook. And
so, while so many of my fellow students found the requirement to be pointless,
I felt that there should be more required in this department.
Now, obviously language is not
everyone’s forte, but if only my fellow students could have at least realized
the importance of sitting through their compulsory two years. Through these
classes, whether they realized it or not, they (hopefully) became more
culturally informed, more aware of the world around them and their place in the
world, and how important cooperation and diversity is. But often I would still
hear complaints about these classes on the grounds that they have no use for a
foreign language, they don’t plan on traveling, or their career of choice doesn’t
involve language. And while I respect their career choices, I don’t think they
realize just how small and connected our world has grown.
Causes/Consequences:
·
No matter your career, language and cultural
understanding is needed to do well.
o
Language proficiency is a major plus on a
resume.
§
No matter what profession someone chooses to
pursue, they are sure to encounter and need to interact with people from different
cultural backgrounds, in some cases they may not even speak in the same
language. On an even more extreme level, if they choose to work for a company,
there may come a day where they want to send them overseas for some reason.
What is one to do it a situation like this? Sure, even with two years in a
language, anyone would be uncomfortable and unable to really speak a language
well, but this acts as a great platform in case additional language study is
required as well as providing some previous cultural understanding.
·
Promotes cultural understanding in a shrinking
world. This is needed in order to communicate and compete.
·
You don’t have to travel to need these
skills/knowledge.
·
So much of the world is ahead of us in this
aspect already.
o
"All but two countries (Ireland and
Scotland) in the European Union mandate the study of a foreign language, which
usually begins in primary school. With the exception of Italy and Wales, all
European students must learn a foreign language throughout their compulsory
education." (Eurydice 2005)
·
Helps in other areas of study
o
• Applying current standard practices of foreign
language instruction ("Five Cs of Communication, Culture, and Connections
with other disciplines, Comparisons with students' native languages and
cultures, and use of the foreign language in Communities outside the classroom")
reinforces English language course content of other coursework. (Curtain &
Dahlberg 2004)
•
Learning another language can enhance knowledge of English structure and
vocabulary (Curtain & Dahlberg, 2004).
Conclusion:
Reminder to audience of claim in introduction. Reiterate
points and make a final statement to persuade audience of overall claim.
No comments:
Post a Comment