Why should we learn a foreign language? After all, the whole world speaks
English! Ladies and Gentlemen, there's some truth in this argument - but only
some! Allow me to give an example from the area which I can perhaps judge best:
diplomacy. British diplomats generally have an excellent reputation as
extremely professional and efficient. And that specifically includes language
skills. Before they're posted to a new country, British diplomats are trained
in its language, sometimes for up to a year.
Why do they do that? When you come to a new post, you can only really make full
use of your professionalism and efficiency in your host country's language. You
can't just rely on English. So having a foreign language in addition to English
is vital - as indeed it is in so many other professions.
Educational reasons
Learning a foreign language at the earliest possible age, and by that I mean
from between 4 and 5 years old - that is, at nursery and primary school - opens
up a whole new dimension for children: it greatly benefits their reading and
writing in their own language; there's evidence that, like musical education,
it contributes significantly to the development of individual intelligence; and
concretely it improves overall results at school.
Cultural reasons
A new language opens up a whole new culture. A foreign language gives us access
to another culture, and our lives take on a new dimension. The great German
poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, said in 1827: "Whoever is not acquainted
with foreign languages knows nothing of his own." Seen like that, learning
a language is almost comparable to a journey of discovery - and if we remember
the great explorers and the 18th century gentleman's grand tour, you might
almost call it a British invention.
Conversely, to lose a language is to lose a whole culture. This realisation has
led to determined efforts to preserve minority languages, including, for
example, in Britain, with the renaissance of the Welsh and Gaelic languages.
There are similar widespread efforts in Britain to promote community languages,
for example by providing application forms in Urdu or other languages. It is a
fundamental truth that cultures define themselves through languages.
Personality
By learning a new language, you gain new horizons, but at the same time you
reinforce your own identity, and therefore also your self-confidence. A foreign
language can contribute to a stronger personality. Apparently foreign languages
are even an essential quality of a lover. In Shakespeare's great comedy
"Twelfth Night" we hear a gentleman being praised: He plays the
viol-de-gamboys, speaks 3 or 4 languages and hath all the good gifts of nature.
Economic reasons
The typical profile expected from future business leaders fully reflects the
demands of the globalised world. British language graduates find a good job
more easily than others. Knowledge of German in particular improves one's
chances on the job market. Many German companies abroad, and many foreign
companies in Germany and companies with close links to German-speaking
countries look for employees with language skills.
In spite of all the current economic difficulties in Germany, we are now,
thanks to the Government's reform policies, well on the way to overcoming our
economic weakness. Germany is still the most important trading partner for
almost all the European countries and many countries outside Europe. A person
who speaks German will be able to communicate better with business partners in
the world's third-biggest economy and one of the foremost exporting countries.
Political reasons
Politically, a positive approach in Britain to language learning would have
benefits on two different levels. Firstly, it would help to enable Germany to
be seen more as a whole rather than just isolated aspects, and to break down a
residual antipathy or at least ignorance and indifference. That's of course our
number one aim. And secondly, it would help to ensure that Britain does not
remain apart in Europe. In my view, it cannot be in Britain's interests to
isolate itself politically or culturally.
taken from:
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/cultural-services/articles/learn-language.html
الجمعة أكتوبر 28, 2011 3:56 am
