I believe that students, especially at the University level,
should be required to learn about other cultures and their languages.
Individuals who chose to further education at the college level are seeking to
challenge themselves intellectually and in the end obtain a degree that will
allow them to be successful members of society. Although learning a foreign
language can be difficult, it is tremendously rewarding in many regards. You
are given the opportunity to learn about a culture that is so different from
your own. Learning about other cultures often puts your own into perspective,
which isn’t a bad thing for Americans. Also, learning about a different culture
and their language may spark an interest that you never knew you had. In
college, many students enter undeclared with no idea what they are interested
in or they change their major several times. Required courses are meant to not
only make us well rounded educated individuals, they also introduce us to different
topics and subjects that we would never see in our own fields. For example, my
aunt went into Colgate University as a business major. Her freshman year she
took Russian in order to fulfill the foreign language requirement. She ended up
falling in love with the language and their culture that not only did she change
her major to Russian, but after studying abroad there for a semester she has
decided that she is going to live there for three years.
Friday, August 31, 2012
Foreign language at the University
I feel as though students should be required to meet a basic standard for a foreign language requirement. They should have a common exam to prove the they are efficient enough from high school to test out of the foreign language requirement. Language is very difficult for some people and having to be required to take it in college may be frustrating to some of the students. In my studies and experiences I have noted that people who enjoy the language in high school will continue it through out the college studies. Making it required is added stress that a science or math major wouldn't need to deal with. I know being a Spanish major that the less classes I have to take out of my field the better. However, as culture seems to be growing it is beneficial for students to take a language so that they are able to communicate properly.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Discussion #1 Response
I feel that as a student of a foreign language, I'm rather biased towards the study of foreign language. In a perfect world, I would love to see every student and every adult study a foreign language. It's a great way to keep the mind sharp, learn more about your own language, learn about foreign cultures, ideas and beliefs, as well as learning a new language. I feel that the aspect of learning about a new culture is especially important in this day and age, and it is one that is practically impossible to separate from learning a FL.
On the other hand, not everyone can learn a FL easily or would even be interested in doing so. At the university level, education is no longer mandated and the students (or their parents) have to pay tuition themselves. So I don't think it is right to require students to pay to study a foreign language that they may have no interest or stake in. At UNH, it is required to take one course about foreign culture as an undergrad and I personally think that is as good a compromise as we can get at this point in time.
On the other hand, not everyone can learn a FL easily or would even be interested in doing so. At the university level, education is no longer mandated and the students (or their parents) have to pay tuition themselves. So I don't think it is right to require students to pay to study a foreign language that they may have no interest or stake in. At UNH, it is required to take one course about foreign culture as an undergrad and I personally think that is as good a compromise as we can get at this point in time.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Discussion #1: Foreign Language Requirement
Should a foreign language be required for all students at the university? Why? Express your opinion on this issue. Don't forget to read your peers' postings and respond to them.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)