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Americans Split on Foreign Language Requirement for High School

1/25/2010, by Proloy Bhatta

HIGHLIGHTS

• 51% say foreign language should be required in high school.
• 95% said learning arts and music is important
• 96% said physical education is important

According to a recent CBS News poll conducted Jan 6-10, 2010; 51% think we should require students to learn a foreign language in high school -- 47% disagree.

OPINION: I was originally shocked to see how polarized this issue was. As the world becomes smaller, being well versed in additional foreign languages is important. But I, myself, have mixed feelings about the issue.

Foreign nations are making a major effort to learn additional languages. Here are just a few examples:

1. Indian IT workers are encouraged to learn Japanese to attract investment from Japan.
2. International schools in the Philippines are conducted completely in English but the children are also taught Spanish and French.
3. Being multilingual is a fact of life for Europeans.

As the world copes with globalization, Americans are falling behind.

Americans do care about having a balanced education. These very same adults feel arts/music and physical education are important.

• 95% said learning arts and music is important
• 96% said physical education is important

But on the other hand...

In defense of those that disagree, America is the greatest land in the world. We have people from all over the world that come here to work and pay taxes. They are well versed in their native tongue -- whether it is Spanish, Cantonese, Hindi, Tagalog, or Arabic. We have plenty of talent in this regard and do not necessarily have to require it.

And there's a principle here too of whether or not we want requirements being set at the federal level.

For example, states in the West are more likely to need to speak Spanish while some states near Canada may need to speak French. States in the midwest like Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota may rather devote more attention to learning local trades like farming than foreign languages.

Then there is an issue about home schooling. I am all for parents having the power to home school their children but if there is a foreign language requirement set at the national level, how are parents supposed to satisfy this objective appropriately?

So as much as I think it is vital for us all to learn foreign languages, it does not necessarily have to be mandated at the federal level.

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