Recently there has been some debate as to whether or not foreign languages should be a requirement to graduate from college. Currently at Grand Valley State University, students seeking a Bachelor of Arts degree are required to attain at least a third-semester proficiency in any given language. Those who seek a Bachelor of Science degree, however, are required to take several math and science courses instead of a language course.

Although taking foreign language courses isn’t required for all students at GVSU, it is always a good idea to broaden your horizons.

Let’s get the obvious out of the way – the Internet has made the world into one giant interconnected community of people. Any company looking to do business with partners overseas will look for people who are familiar with another country’s language, culture and customs in order to assure that relations and business deals go smoothly. Those without at least one foreign language under their belt would be at a severe disadvantage in both seeking these jobs and moving up the corporate ladder.

Foreign languages will continue to become especially important as global interconnectivity continues to increase. Although English is rather common among most countries today, partners in other countries would find it unique and polite that an American would be familiar and accustomed to their culture.

And what about vacationing outside of the country? There are a few things that are vitally important to know before traveling to a foreign country, things that are added bonuses when you take a foreign language course. Before traveling to France, you have to know that no pizza is a regular pizza. Before traveling to Germany, you have to know that the tip is always included with the meal.

But it isn’t just about familiarization with a foreign language – taking such courses can help you learn things about English as well. Not many people know what a conjugation is or the difference between a direct and indirect object before they took a foreign language – unless, of course, they’re mega English nerds. Most of the concepts that you learn when taking a foreign language are things that you just grew up with and adopted while speaking English in everyday life.

As much as we like to think it does, the world does not revolve around the United States – there are other cultures out there to which some of the world’s most highly valued individuals belong. So if students don’t take this opportunity to familiarize themselves with at least one, they’ll be left behind, because there’s only so much that Babel Fish or Google Translate can do.

Thank you, professor Zulema Moret

Thank you, professor Carol Wilson

Thank you, professor Yan Liang

Thank you, professor Frank Neitzert