As I have mentioned in posts before, I am currently studying abroad in England for the fall semester. It has easily been one of the most exciting and challenging experiences and being able to travel the world has been an indescribable time in my life. However, I feel that I have chosen to do something on the easy side, by traveling to a main study center in which everyone speaks my own language. This weekend I traveled to Venice, Italy and was able to soak up some sun and a culture far different from my own. While practically everyone in Venice that we encountered spoke English, I realized that I knew very little to no Italian whatsoever.
Although it is common for people of European countries to speak English as their second or third languages, it is uncommon that an American speaks anything more than English. Yes we are forced into taking a language course during our high school years, and sometimes we continue that on in college depending on the requirements of our university, but I only know a handful of people who ACTUALLY can speak the language of the course they took. I know even fewer people who are studying this language still and are using it toward a major or minor in their studies. I give major kudos to these people, especially those who are studying the language in order to become an educator or to work as a translator.
Being abroad this semester has helped me realize that we are still not putting enough emphasis on students learning a second language. Many students would believe that they are being hounded enough already to speak another language or to take courses regarding another culture, but those students do not realize how entitled they are to their own language. We are fortunate enough that individuals from countries other than our own have taken the time to learn our language, so in the scheme of things, it would make sense if we chose to learn a little more about theirs. It has been difficult getting over the language barrier in some of the places I have traveled to, and I feel that although I would not know the entire language to the best of my knowledge, knowing a little more than I did coming to Europe would have helped me to be a better tourist and student. I even wish that I knew a little Swedish or Danish so that I could communicate with my housemates in their own language once in a while!
If more students were proactive in their younger high school years and were truly dedicated to learning a language and working on the basics, it would overall help that student as an individual and it would allow more Americans to begin paying attention to cultures far different from their own. Being bi-lingual is an extremely important aspect of going abroad and going into a career that forces you to work with individuals from other countries. There are plenty of opportunities to use the language which you've learned and it would help you to become a more well-rounded individual.
I truly wish that I had stuck with the foreign language I had been taking in high school and college, even though I found it difficult. It may not have been Italian, but I believe that having an understanding of a language that wasn't English would have helped me more in the long run, not only in traveling but in personal and professional life as well. Think about this when you're choosing your courses for next semester! It's not too late to try and learn something new, especially when it comes with so many benefits along the way!
