Ashraf doesn't directly talk about the idea of a universal language--one is likely to assume she is opposed to it--but does evoke some thought in regards to it. The idea of a universal language is an idea that can be traced as far back as the story of Babel. Ironically, back then it didn't work either.
What Ashraf proposes is that instead of snubbing the world, America should require that each student take a foreign language in order that they will become aware of the world around them. And it's not just about learning to speak language--we must learn the language in context of the contemporary world: have discussions of politics pertaining to countries speaking that language.
As we seem to be a trickle down society in terms of how we gather information, our first of information, the media (all of forms of medium), needs to play a major role in re-acclimating America to the world. America is like the nuns in Sister Act--they seemed uptight and self-righteous at first, but when taught to sing in a new way they were able to connect with their community and make strides towards strengthening their bonds with a community looking up to them for help. If only America, truly understood what it was capable of.
On a personal note: I understand that while it is a huge advancement for higher education to offer and require Latin languages or Dutch languages, it is pertinent that these languages not take complete precedence. In the one world we live in today, if we are truly concerned we should have available in our school systems the languages of third world countries, especially those in Africa and Southeast Asia. It was a struggle for my high school to bring in a Chinese curriculum, but in the end we have now fostered an exchange program with a leadership school in Shanghai.
America, be better; do best.
~1~
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2 comments:
Ashraf’s proposal that would require all students to learn a foreign language in a meaningful context is certainly provocative, but do you think it even goes far enough to fully embed students in a diverse globalized geopolitical world? What about mandatory exchange programs or something along those lines? Also, how might this type of proposal cause students to neglects the issues that are important within our own cultural context, such as poverty, education, and crime?
Very interesting! There really is a lot of emphasis in learning latin languages; I had never thought about the benefits of leaning third world languages.
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