Communication is Key: Analyzing the Lack of Foreign Language Education in the United States

Abstract

Our world is currently home to three and four thousand different languages, with the average American only knowing one: English. Despite the fact that the successes of United States is based in part on the influx of immigrants from all regions of the globe, the inherent push for assimilation and the adoption of English has inhibited second and third generation Americans from practicing their native tongue. Generations of the current US populace lack the opportunity to learn foreign languages, as the necessary educational opportunities to learn a foreign language are substandard in many states. Where is the intrinsic human desire for global communication among the American people, especially those moving forward in the 21st century? Why is there minimal interest from Americans to learn foreign languages and cultures? Why is an emphasis on foreign language education not initiated for American students at a young age, where language retention has been scientifically proven to be higher? Is it America’s geographical positioning and its global influence leading others to learn English that contribute to the shortage of bilingual Americans? The focus of this paper will analyze from various standpoints as to why Americans are not receiving the proper foreign language education necessary to function and thrive within an ever increasingly globalized society. It will assert that the lack of foreign language education negatively affects the United States from both a national security and economic standpoint. Lastly, it will examine the innate benefits of knowing two or more languages and how the improved implementation of foreign language education within the United States can benefit the individual as well as the entirety of the country.