Mandatory Foreign Language Fluency for College Graduation

A Marine captain once told the author about an incident in Iraq when he had two Iraqi prisoners separated after they were caught speaking Arabic to each other. No translator was available, and none of the Marines present could understand what the Iraqis were saying. The prisoners may or may not have been conspiring, but without knowing what they were saying, the captain separated the prisoners to protect his Marines. Americans live and interact in a multilingual and multicultural environment, and fluency in Arabic would have helped the Marine captain in his situation. Many universities in other countries require fluency in a foreign language for graduation, and colleges in the United States would do well to follow suit.
Some believe that adding a foreign language requirement would add an unnecessary strain to small universities that are already struggling to maintain current programs. While this is a valid claim, a small technical college like Montana Tech offers courses in three foreign languages. Adding a foreign language fluency requirement in one of the languages offered would create little administrative overhead and increase enrollment in those courses.
Learning a second language builds cultural awareness. Human culture and language are inexplicably linked, and foreign language study helps dissolve misconceptions about foreign cultures. In cultures very foreign to native English speakers, such as those found in the Middle and Far East, cultural understanding is integral to survival. Increased cultural understanding also increases open mindedness and builds empathy for others.
Learning a second language helps one improve one’s ability in English. Data obtained from the College Board show a positive correlation between SAT scores and foreign language study. Students who had no background in a foreign language achieved a mean score of 366 on the verbal portion of the SAT. Students with one year of foreign language achieved a slightly higher average of 378, and students with five or more years of foreign language achieved a mean of 504(Eddy). Improved communication skills are always in demand by employers, even if foreign language fluency isn’t required.
In today’s world, the ability to communicate internationally is increasingly important. Spanish is widely spoken in the United States, and Spanish fluency is becoming important in fields such as law and medicine. A friend of the author, who is a registered nurse, has explained to the author the value of foreign language fluency in treating Spanish-speaking patients. Business relations with China have generated a need to communicate in Mandarin, and China already requires fluency in English to graduate from college there. For travelers, being able to communicate in the native language of a foreign nation shows politeness and consideration for the people there.
Integrating into today’s international world can only help United States’ citizens. One way to accomplish this is to learn a foreign language. To conclude, mandatory fluency in a foreign language for college graduation would help improve U.S. foreign relations and trade.


Source:
Eddy, P.A. “The Effects of Foreign Language Study in High School on Verbal Ability as Measured by the Scholastic Aptitude Test – Verbal”. Washington, D.C.: Center for Applied Linguistics, 1981. Ed 196 312.