Does language learning have fashions? During the eighties the number of people in the US captivated by Russian and Japanese grew, but has since diminished. After September 11th, Arabic drew people’s attention, but while it continues to entice, it could be argued that interest has plateaued. Chinese? Universities around the country are offering courses in Mandarin in response to demand. Is this the language of the future in the US or is its attractiveness something that will alter with political and economic currents? The US population contains the second-largest number of Spanish speakers in the world. Its popularity grows and many of the country’s bilingual learned English as their second language and not the other way around. Language learning opens doors to employment, provides interpersonal skills, and enhances a citizenry more prepared for a globalized environment. Is monolingualism really the US’s “twenty-first century illiteracy”?
This week National Public Radio’s On Point program addressed the state of language learning in today’s United States. The show is worth a listen.
This week National Public Radio’s On Point program addressed the state of language learning in today’s United States. The show is worth a listen.
