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Monolingual vs. Multilingual.

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Isaac Asher | English Assignment 7 | 07/13/16 | Sinai Academy |
Monolingual vs. Multilingual. There are roughly 6,900 living languages in the world. Europe alone has 234 languages spoken on a daily basis. Being monolingual has vast disadvantages. With all the various types of languages being spoken worldwide, we cannot isolate a single language as being good enough. Being multilingual not only makes us more diverse as a people, it can also help solve disputes between foreign countries, make our economy better, and raise the new generation with an educational system that can help them with the rest of their lives through the use of foreign languages. In source B, David Thomas speaks about why we don't necessarily need foreign languages and how we would be better off as a monolingual country. He states, "I think those pupils who don't lean other languages are making an entirely sensible decision." Thomas calls it a "genteel indulgence" comparing it to someone who decides to take on learning to play the violin. The main reason why Thomas is wrong when saying we don't need other languages to be taught is because America is an extremely diverse country in and of it itself. Hundreds of different nationalities belong to the United States and make up America as a whole. Yes, they have to accustom to the English language, but minorities are what makes up the majority of this country. So to say that we don't need to learn their languages is like saying we don't need the Chinese population boosting our economy, or the Germans bringing the waltz to America, or Italians bringing pizza to us. These are just three factors that America has thanks to foreign countries. Being multilingual can make America better as a whole and bring so many more innovative ideas to the U.S. According to Catherine Porter in source D, written by Ursula Oaks. "The lack of foreign-language learning in our society, she states, is a devastating waste of potential." Students who learn languages at an early age consistently display enhanced cognitive abilities relative to their monolingual peers. The research is showing that multilingual children can think better. Porter writes: "Demands that the language-learning process makes on the brain.. make the brain more flexible and incite it to discover new patterns- and thus to create and maintain more circuits." This article by Oaks shows how the upcoming generation of children can benefit greatly through the educational system by being taught foreign languages. Russell Berman writes about Richard Hass and 'Foreign Language For Foreign Policy' in Source A. Stating that "These are troubled times for language programs in the United States, which have been battered by irresponsible cutbacks at all levels." Berman refers to Hass's speech at an American Debate as being an influential voice. In his talk, "Language as a Gateway to Global Communities," Hass expressed strong support for increased foreign language learning opportunities. Stating that "language learning is not just technical mastery of grammar but rather, in his words, a "gateway" to a thorough understanding of other societies." Berman explains through this article that being multilingual is crucial for America to help us with issues as a country, with foreign policy, and helping dispute many problems we have with other countries, with wars, etc...

Being multilingual is extremely need for America as a whole. For the economy, for the people, and for the future of the U.S. We need to establish more classes throughout schools in America for foreign languages. It will do nothing else but help us as a society with each other, and more importantly, with others.

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