Why Students Should Learn a Foreign Language - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages In 2003, the College Board’s research showed, “Students who completed at least four years of foreign language study scored more than 100 points higher on each section of the SAT than students who took a half year or less” (“College-Bound”). Learning another language can improve a person’s thinking skills and help the person progress intellectually. Moreover, it also opens doors for him in his professional sphere by enabling him to take jobs in other countries. Learning a foreign language enables an individual to enrich himself and assists him in higher education too. In most countries, students are required to take a foreign language during elementary school and high school. I think that because they are required to take another language, the students actually learn better and get better grades. “All but two countries (Ireland and Scotland) in the European Union mandate the study of a foreign language, which usually begins in primary school. With the exception of Italy and Wales, all European students must learn a foreign language throughout their compulsory education” (Eurydice). In the Central American country of El Salvador, where I was born, students embrace the idea of learning another language because it is engraved in the education system right from kindergarten. In this tiny country, Spanish is the official language, but most Salvadorians know more than just Spanish because of the school regulations, where English is taught to all students attending private schools. Many schools even emphasize on learning more than three languages like in the German School of San Salvador; there, the German School students are taught English, German and Spanish as mandatory subjects. Personally, I find it very tough to study a subject like math in German however I really admire the ability of such students to comprehend tough subjects in many languages.  ...Download file to see next pagesRead More