This morning on my drive to work, I heard this story on NPR. It is about the budget cuts facing NY State University Albany and how many of the suspended programs are language programs. In light of yesterday's class discussion, I think these cuts are a clear demonstration of the priority of language learning in America's public schools. If language learning isn't a priority even at the level of university study, how can it be incorporated into secondary and elementary schools? Cutting language programs will certainly reduce the number of foreign language teachers. The student reactions do demonstrate some hope.
http://www.npr.org/2010/11/15/131336270/cuts-to-university-s-humanities-program-draw-outcry
I find this to be so disappointing about the American education system. Cutting these foreign language programs along with other humanities courses just goes to show the lack of importance placed on these fields of study. I understand the argument of budget cuts and the fact that these disciplines may not be viewed by students as career-oriented, but I also think that the education system's lack of emphasis on these disciplines makes students less likely to pursue them. If foreign languages are always going to be the programs that are cut first, then undoubtedly students from kindergarten through university-level are going to receive the message that foreign languages don't matter. I think this will also reinforce the idea that learning another language is not necessary because we live in America and we speak the language of the world. To me, this is not reality and I think foreign languages should be introduced at the preschool, kindergarten and elementary levels in order to give students the opportunity to become global citizens. Learning another language not only gives students the opportunity to become bilingual or even multilingual, but it also can spark interest in other cultures and lead to greater cross-cultural understanding.
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