Debate
As with most things in life, there is not a one size fits all answer to any question. I want to make it clear that learning a foreign language for most people is a wonderful and worthwhile process. Let’s have a debate and talk about the good and the bad when learning a foreign language in a classroom setting. This debate is strictly for foreign language requirements in a classroom. When fully immersed in another culture, I cannot think of one reason you shouldn't learn that culture’s language. It can be challenging but so rewarding to be able to converse with those around you. If given time, empathy, and understanding language acquisition will occur if fully immersed.
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There is a lot of excellent debate for and against learning a foreign language in a classroom. My most significant argument is for choice! I do believe that is what is most important when deciding for oneself if the benefits outweigh the cons when learning a foreign language in a classroom setting. This should be left to individual decision. In recent years, the term neurodiversity has become a movement. This movement pushes for the respect of all types of learners and their unique learning differences. It seems hardly respectful to force a language requirement.
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Advantages
While learning foreign language in a classroom setting, there are a lot of beneficial reasons for doing so! First and foremost, it is beneficial to learn about another culture. We are a global society and learning another language can help us understand other perspectives outside of our own. It can help us grow and see the world through a new set of eyes.
Other benefits when learning a foreign language are potentially better test scores, more parental involvement, and higher achievements in your first language. Accessing the language center of your brain and pushing that area to learn more can create some school benefits.
For those that are not language based learners it could be argued to take a foreign language as they are comfortable with failure. It is through this failure that they find their strength and humility. Just because someone thinks differently, this does not limit them and the choice should be theirs when deciding to take a foreign language.
Disadvantages
Some drawbacks while taking foreign language in a classroom, is that it’s not cost effective if having to pay for these classes. Also, the grammar of one language can be confusing to learn as it’s never the same as your first language. Language is fluid and forever evolving. It is created and therefore will change based on that culture’s needs. It’s not cost effective, if having to pay, because we can learn a foreign language in a classroom, but if we don’t continue to use this language we lose its acquisition.
For those that think differently, this process of learning to read and write in another language can be laborious. Dyslexia is a common learning difference. It is so common it could almost be considered a learning trait. For dyslexics learning to read and write in their first language can be extremely taxing. It seems hardly beneficial and almost cruel to have them repeat that process in the classroom in another language entirely.
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1. Kaufman, 2013, p. 61
2. Cade, 1997
3. Gladwell, 2013, p.102
4. Richards, 2011
5. Saltz, 2019, p 19
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