“Being a multicultural person – or at least a citizen of the world – is in the very foundation of everything we do here…whether it’s education policy or economic development policy, it’s all set in a global context these days. If you miss that point, then you’ve missed our time and place in the world today.” (Converge Magazine, Winter 2009)Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. Former Governor of Utah (2004-09)
The World we live in has five continents, and contains a myriad of people and a huge diversity of languages. College life gives us the opportunity to meet students from different parts of the world and those students represent a multicultural population. We made friends and we have the opportunity to communicate with them. But for many of them English is not their first language. I found it interesting that learning a second language gives the learner to step inside the mind of another culture. In fact, learning a second language will also increase understanding, compassion and help in fighting stereotypes. The last thing I should advised you is to be afraid to talk even when it’s sound weird. English is not my first language and having a good tutor in English helps me to improve my English. Salt Lake Community College offers a center for languages when you can learn a foreign language by practicing, listening, speaking and writing. Tutors are available or free in more than ten different languages. The importance of learning became a necessity for Utah State. In 2009 the government of Utah decides to organize the Utah Language roadmap for the 21st century. This event was an aggressive language education plan that will prepare generations of Utah students to enter a changing global economy. This program articulation aligns world language acquisition between elementary, secondary and higher education. This is another proof that speaking a second language became a requirement to improve employment potential. In fact, whatever your career goals the fact that you know another language will open up employment opportunities. You can also used the web and totally immerse yourself if you move in the country. A person competent in other languages can bridge the gap between cultures, contribute to international diplomacy, promote national security and world peace, and successfully engage in international trade.
According to the recent studies people who have learned foreign languages shows greater cognitive development in areas such as mental flexibility, creativity, and higher order thinking skills, such as problem-solving, conceptualizing, and reasoning. Learning another language can make you understand better, International literature, music and film because using the translator not always gave you the real meaning of the sentences the original language often get lost in translation.