essay 2

Persuasive Essay - Is learning a foreign language a waste of time?

“Parlez-vous Francais?” “Sprechen sie Deutsch?”, “Tu hable Espanol?”. “What is he saying?” How many languages do you posses the ability in which to speak? It takes time and practice to be able to speak with such a manner to communicate with others unlike yourself. Being fluent in another language is much too easy and yet much less time-consuming. There are so many benefits in which to be received from educating or being educated; besides money. Not only are you able to improve your personal language skills, but also so many job opportunities calling your name saying, “Here I am.” If you don’t give, you don’t receive.
Language is at the core of human existence. Through language we express the hopes and dreams we hold for our families, our state and our nation. The ability to communicate in a second language enables us to know the hopes, dreams and visions of others around the world. The study of foreign languages prepares today’s youth for tomorrow’s opportunities supporting basic skills instruction, developing cross cultural understanding and preparing our youth to enter the global marketplace. Foreign language study has been shown to enhance listening skill and memory. Students of a second language are thought to improve their reading comprehension in the native language and also score higher in reading achievement. During the past several years, data form the Admissions Testing of the College Board shows a positive correlation between the SAT and the study of foreign languages.

Benefits of studying a foreign language are as follows:
1. Broadens you experiences; expands your view of the world.
2. Encourages critical reflection upon the relation of language and culture, language and thought.
3. Develops your intellect; teaches you how to learn.
4. Teaches and encourages respect for others people.
5. Contributes to cultural awareness and literacy, such as knowledge of original text.
6. Builds practical skills.
7. Improves the knowledge of your own language through comparison and contrast with the foreign language.
8. Exposes you to modes of thought outside your language.
9. A sense of relevant past.
10. Expands opportunities for meaningful lingual activity.
11. Balances content and skill.
12. Contributes to achievement of national goals, such as economic development or national security.
13. Contributes to the creation of your personality.
14. Enables transfer of training.
15. Preserves a country’s image as a cultural nation.
Almost any job, even in the U.S., Can benefit form tour knowing another language. More and more of the U.S. population speak languages other than English. Language skills set you apart from other workers, making you a better candidate for promotion and work on new projects. Beyond that, there are a huge number of jobs that absolutely require that you speak another language:
--Social Services --Business and Finance
--Communications --Science and Technology
--Education --Government
--And many more…
Listening to music, watching movies, or talking to someone, you’ll eventually be doing something similar to each of these previously listed. Whether it is strictly speaking, reading a book, you’ll encounter it. You kind of have to be bi-lingual just to order a burger anyway. Ha ha. Foreign immigrants come to this country speaking or writing very little English. They spend their time to learn English before and/or after coming here. You are getting ready for a trip to France. It’s roughly a few days to arrive. A few days seem to pass. You haven’t the slightest idea as to what the people are saying. What do you do?

Two highway workers were busy working at a construction site when a big car with diplomatic license plates pulled up.
"Parlez-vous français?" the driver asks them. The two workers just stared.
"Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" The two continued to stare at him.
"Fala português?" Neither worker said anything.
"Parlate Italiano?" Still no response.
Finally, the man drives off in disgust.
One worker turned to the other and said, "Gee, maybe we should learn a
foreign language..."
"What for? That guy knew four of them and what good did it do him?"