| Most Americans only know one language, English. | | | | are becoming more globalized, it is more |
| Most of us went through high school and studied | | | | important that we begin to learn other languages. |
| Spanish or maybe even French, for 2 or more | | | | If I wanted to go to Italy to visit, it would be |
| years. Some of us even studied more during | | | | very difficult for me to get around if I don’t |
| college have as much as 5 or 6 years with a | | | | know a word of Italian, especially if I don’t |
| foreign language, but we still couldn’t | | | | even have a phrasebook or dictionary. |
| communicate in the language. On the other hand, | | | | The internet has allowed us to get even closer |
| in most other countries, people know 2, 3, 4, or | | | | with other cultures that speak other languages. |
| even more languages. Also, they know the | | | | For those who want to communicate with them, |
| language well enough to communicate. | | | | they may have no choice but to learn their |
| Why is this? Why does it seem so much more | | | | language. Or, if someone is in business and is |
| important to other countries to learn a foreign | | | | taking a trip abroad, they need to know their |
| language than in America? What is the importance | | | | language in order to communicate. This is why |
| of foreign language study? Foreign language | | | | those who go to school for International Business |
| knowledge has become more important today | | | | must take a certain amount of credits in a foreign |
| than it has in the past largely because of | | | | language. |
| globalization. Take business for example. How | | | | Learning a foreign language may be necessary for |
| many items that you buy are from the U.S. and | | | | some in their careers and for others, they may |
| how many are from other countries? Businesses | | | | just want to learn it for fun or for a trip abroad. |
| are becoming worldwide expanding beyond the | | | | If you want to become a world traveler, it is not |
| United States. | | | | required that you learn every language of every |
| Globalization has been helped along extensively by | | | | country you visit, but learning the language of just |
| the internet and communication. We can send an | | | | one country will make visiting that country that |
| email to someone in China just as fast as | | | | much more enjoyable. Have you every come |
| someone next door. Communication between | | | | across someone who doesn’t speak English |
| countries, cultures, and languages has become | | | | or at least not very well? It was probably |
| simplified and very simple. What does this have to | | | | frustrating trying to communicate with them. This |
| do with learning a foreign language? | | | | is what it would be like if you visited a country |
| First of all, many countries in Europe and Asia are | | | | where they didn’t speak your language. |
| much smaller than the U.S. and yet the | | | | You may want to learn one more language just |
| neighboring country speaks a completely different | | | | to impress your friends or you may want to learn |
| language. They must learn that language if they | | | | several languages so that you can live abroad. |
| want to go their and communicate. America is | | | | Whatever your reason, learning a foreign language |
| quite large and most people don’t find it | | | | is a great experience and is something you will |
| necessary to learn another language. Now that we | | | | always be very happy you did. |