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Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Foreign Language Requirement
More on the foreign language front - today from the Lariat. An editorial complains that Baylor's various foreign language requirements imposed by degree program "abound with inconsistencies." In view of Baylor's mission to "educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service," what do you think the requirement should be? What responsibility does the university's stated mission impose on you? Pick a topic and tell us what you think.
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I think it should depend on the area of study. I am film and need four semester. I think that is ridiculous. Business majors aren't required to take it yet we are? China is the new focal point of economics. Businessmen definitely may need to know a foreign language at some point.
ReplyDeleteI believe not all majors apply to a foreign language. Of course a foreign language does lean towards the "Worldwide leadership" end of the statement. However communication is not the only form to reach all areas of the world. As language is a key in advancement and communication other forms can be utilized.
ReplyDeleteI think that its not fair to everyone who has to take a forien lang, becuase some people will never use it and it has nothing to do with some majors. Not everyone is going to move outside of the states, or anywhere that english can't be spoken.
ReplyDeleteI think that learning a new language is beneficial to anyone. Learning a new language isn't just about how to speak it, or read it, or even write it. You also learn a background to the place where that language comes from. You learn more about the world and how it differs from ours. I think a language should be required for some majors espacially in the United States because it is such a diverse place.
ReplyDeleteHaving a foreign language helps immensely. Not only is it essential for some jobs, a foreign language is a great thing to have in your arsenal. A foreign language furthers your ability to communicate needs and opinions efficiently. While it may be a difficult discipline for some to master, it is incredibly useful in such a diverse world. It is becoming easier with each day to travel and commute between areas of different languages. For some people, it is even necessary.
ReplyDeleteIt can be great thing to know a language other than English. We may not necessarily be fluent in that other language, but aside from learning it as a requirement for your degree. Somewhere down the road you will be thankful you did. Not only is it beneficial in a society like today’s, but I think is just something that makes you a smarter person in general. This world is all about communication, thats the way things get done. So if the foreign languages at Baylor are more difficult and "abound with inconsistencies", so what, thats what we do is we get things done. If anything is worth taking time to study, its "another language"
ReplyDeleteThe summer before I came to Baylor, I came up to campus and took a placement test for Spanish. I placed in to the 1412 class. I waited 4 semesters to take the class, and when I finally did it was unbearable. I made it through, and passed, but if you ever sat me down and asked me to tell you a summary of what I learned, I'm afraid I couldn't do it. I was enrolled in Spanish 2320 this semester, but I became overwhelmed and dropped it. I feel anxious about this but am now exploring different options. My degree requires 4 semesters of Spanish, and I am 50% done. I believe that Baylor would be a lot better if they would make some of their Spanish classes a little less impossible for some of us to make decent grades in.
ReplyDeleteForeign language should be required for any degree if the university does stay true to its mission. Not only do you learn the foreign language in those class, but you also learn about other countries and their customs. When it comes to learning a different culture not only do you need to know facts about it but you need to understand cultural differences that a foreign language class does provide. Learning world wide leadership comes from understanding different cultures therefore a foreign language course is important to take.
ReplyDeleteFor most majors the requirement is satisfactory. For the business school, however, it's sub par. With all of their replacement classes they offer instead of having to actually learn a new language is a waste of time. How can you learn how to speak worldly if you cannot understand the world? The question was actually brought up in FaceTime with the Associate Dean of the business school. He also agreed that the required foreign language was unsatisfactory but did not say anything regarding it changing. Hankamer High School earns its name.
ReplyDelete"Baylor is a world class education."
ReplyDeleteI am not good at taking on another language other than English. I ask myself all the time, "Why is a foreign language required?" Lots of students told me they have taken two years or two semesters of Spanish or French but could not speak of lick of it if you asked them too. What's the point in taking one then?
In my opinion, I think a foreign language should only be required if someone is going into a field that would highly recommend it like International Relations of if they happen to be majoring or minoring in the language itself.
I love American Sign Language but it is not a versatile foreign language at Baylor. It only counts if you are a Speech Pathology or Exercise Science major. If you had thoughts of taking this language, kiss this choice goodbye.
I am going back and forth on Speech Pathology and Psychology. If I am forced to take a language I would like to take one that will count towards my major instead of against it especially if I constantly switch fields. ASL in this case is not beneficial.
I think there should be extra humanities courses or something similar to take in place of a foreign language if it is absolutely not necessary for you to have it.
I just think in my case, it is a waste of time and that the courses I need towards my major would be of more importance.
On a side note, because of the foreign language requirement, I am at Baylor for a full two years instead of one.
ReplyDeleteI think that it should be based on your area of study and major. I am a business major and we have a choice on whether to take a foreign language or to choose from these few other classes that they say. But for most majors I think its required. But I think that foreign language should not be a requirement for students who aren't going to need it. It should only be required if thats your field or major/minor. Having this requirement is taking up time and space on students schedules when instead they could be taking courses that have to deal with their major.
ReplyDeleteI think that Baylor's requirements for a foreign language is beneficial to everyone. Yes, some students might think that it will do them no good towards the degree that they are working on, BUT your degree right now may not be the degree that you have next year or a few years down the road. So, it is better to be safe than sorry because if you've changed your major and your schedule is inflexible prior to graduation, then you might not be able to graduate with the degree you want because you're missing a few foreign language credits.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Baylor sound only require international studies and students to take a foriegn langange because it will be easier for them to practice and understand the langange if they are in the native country of the langage.
ReplyDeleteI believe Baylor's requirements for a foreign language can be beneficial. It can help close language barriers. For example, I work at State Farm and I talk to Hispanic customers. If I knew more Spanish I would make more sales, or even save customers more money on their insurance. This could hold true with any language in any situation, business or even on vacation.
ReplyDeleteI feel that if you want to take a foreign language then you should be allowed to take it, however everyone should not be required to complete foreign language hours. People should take foreign language if they think the language will be beneficial to them in the future. For example I am taking Latin because I thought it would help me know the root words of all the scientific words I have to learn and Latin requires you to pay attention very closely. Spanish could be beneficial to an education major who might need to know some words to communicate with future students, but not every major "needs" foreign language.
ReplyDeleteAs a business major I am thankful for the alternatives offered, and while I recognize the benefit in an international and global setting for advanced language knowledge, I feel that the current language recquirement is sufficient.
ReplyDeleteBusiness students desiring to prepare themselves for the global economy most frequently choose to major in International Business or take an emphasis in Foreign Studies. I am confident that both of these options introduce additional cultural and language courses. Furthermore, those that want to prepare themselves appropriately to speak another language in the global economy can always choose to immerse themselves in additional language classes. The Univeristy requirement is the suggested route for prepartion for a career, not necessarily the rule to be successful.
My specific major is Accounting, and I see the greatest worth in Business Writing and Communications Courses for my Language Option as the I have heard the stereotype for individuals sharing my major characterized in terms like " poor communicators", and "socially awkward" or, "nerds". Being able to communicate information in my native language in an easily understandable way to those that haven't crunched the numbers themselves is of greater worth in my field of study than knowing a foregin language. If I were striving for a position that would involve travel abroad, then perhaps I would change my mind.
While I'm aware my opinion is rather specific, I'd like to offer this defense for the current foreign language requirement for Business Major.
I think that taking a foreign language is definitely beneficial to some majors, but also unnecessary for others. If you are an international business major then YES! But if you are a religion major like myself, I feel like my learning interests are conflicted. I find picking up a language quite difficult for myself because I have a different learning mindset. All in all, I will do what my degree requires, but I can't say I will be using the language I acquired as much as all the other valuable information I learned.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I think that having to learn a foreign language is a pain in the butt, I will agree that it very beneficial. I think learning a language gives you a more well rounded education because you don't just learn the language but you learn about the people who speak it and their culture. Even if you don't plan to ever use it, just learning about something "non-american" is refreshing.
ReplyDeleteI know that some business majors do not have to do a foreign language even though I think as business people they should be able to speak at least some of another language. I think the foreign language requirement should have a bare minimum for all majors. Being able to speak another language is a key skill and i think beneficial for anyone who is able to do so.
ReplyDeleteI do not like having foreign language requirements. I am required to take 4 semesters of it and I already took one and it is very hard. I have no prior experience because in high school I took sign language. Baylor does not allow my major to take sign language as our foreign language. I understand we should have some experience in foreign language, but four semesters of spanish seems a little extreme for a fashion merchandising major.
ReplyDeleteI think it should really be based on the area of study that you are doing, the language requirement is usefull for most majors because the USA is becoming very diverse and if you are going to be a doctor or lawyer it could come in handy.
ReplyDeleteI am a Baylor graduate and I had no plans to use a foreign language after college. Life however gave me the opportunity to work in multiple countries and learn additional languages. If I had not studied Spanish at Baylor, I would not have been as prepared to take on foreign based corporate assignments and I would not have succeeded in many of my foreign business travels. Looking back now, I have traveled on business to over 30 countries, lived in two countries outside of the USA and I am not a missionary. My wife is a Baylor graduate also...hated taking Spanish...but was very thankful when we moved to Spanish speaking and Portuguese speaking countries. We can get around in Latin language countries in Italy, Spain and Portugal and have enjoyed France while speaking Portuguese to taxi cab drivers and restaurant waiters.
ReplyDeleteLearn from me...study your foreign language as if you are about to move overseas after graduation. You never know where God will send you to work.
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