While reading "Room for Debates" I stumbled upon an interesting debate called Should Foreign Language Classes Be Mandatory In College. I myself am learning Spanish in High School, so I can relate to this topic. The points made by Betty Berdan "Studying a Language in College Should Depend on Your Interests" were really interesting.
Betty discusses how learning new languages in college isn't really the best choice. She writes, "They would benefit more from classes focused on their interests and major in order to get a job." I would have to agree with this this as students should be focusing on courses that would help them with their career instead of wasting time on something they won't need. However, I think learning a foreign language is also helpful when communicating with people of different diversities, which could help them in their careers.
In addition, she speaks about how it should rather be mandatory during kindergarten through high school instead. It's easier for students to learn something new while they're younger. I agree with this notion as students will have more time when they're younger, and brain development is best in these years, so they'll have an easier time learning it than when they go to college.
Although I think learning a new language would be great, college isn't really the best time to do it as students should be more focused on studies to be able to find a good career. Do you think language classes should be mandatory in college? Furthermore, what language would you consider taking? For me, I would like to take Mandarin.
-Jirote Jiyacharoen
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ReplyDeleteI agree with the article saying that people should learn a new language at an earlier age because once students reach the end of high school and enter college they begin to have less and less time to learn that said language. They will also start to forget the lessons they learned whereas having it learnt at an earlier age would help you retain that information. Students have more time to spend at an earlier age because work begins to feel overwhelming as the student ages especially as they enter college.
ReplyDeleteAdding another language to learn at a later age is beneficial but it should not be mandatory unless your major highly depends on it. Like if you're working as an archaeologist who will take post in the deserts of Egypt you should know the language and culture before you get sent there. I currently know how to speak Arabic at an early age, but because I didn't finish my courses at a young age I don't know how to read or write it. I have changed my courses and have started to learn Spanish, which has been much easier on me.
I agree with Jirote because college is not the best time for learning a language. Mastering a language takes a lot of time and work, and there is enough of that in college. Unless you are striving to be something that needs you to learn a new language, you should not focus on learning a new language. Although it is possible, it will be certainly difficult and time consuming.
ReplyDeleteI would actually like to finish learning Spanish before moving on to a different language. Spanish is pretty easy because it is similar to English. After Spanish I think I would like to learn something unique such as French or Italian.
I agree with your opinion that college isn't the best time to learn a new language. Not only is it harder to learn a new language when you're older, but you are already faced with a significant amount of work in college. It would be especially hard to learn a language if your not interested in it as well.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with Betty's opinion that foreign languages should be taught starting in kindergarten. If I were to learn another foreign language, I would learn French.
Yes jirote, I think you make a very good point. Learning a language is no easy task and making it mandatory for everyone doesn't make sense. Especially for people whose major doesn't have a large amount of human interaction.
ReplyDeleteI can also see the benefit of learning a new language or being taught one from a young age. This could set the kid up for better jobs and allow them to work at more places than others. Personally I think I would like to learn Arabic