The decline in French foreign language studies in the US is due in large part to the competition of Spanish foreign language studies. Hispanic Americans make up a sizeable chunk of the American pie graph whereas French Americans . . . well, has such a term even been coined? Students see a far greater reason to study Spanish than to study French because a large proportion of them know native Spanish speakers or have been in situations in which knowing Spanish has or would have come in handy. Unless students have relatives in France, or have done some overseas travel, most have never met a native French speaker.

Of course, there are other reasons to study French. Travel is one of them. Collegiate study is another. For example, it is difficult to effectively research the minutiae of French history without an understanding, however basic, of the French language. Students in high school, when foreign language study is often mandatory, do not look this far in advance, however. Most have no idea what they want to study in college, let alone what they will do after. People honestly believe that, if the need arises, they will learn later. As we know, it is far more difficult to learn a language from a computer program than from a teacher, and, without any accountability or consequences, individual efforts to learn a foreign language often go by the wayside.

Thirdly, Americans know that English is the most widely spoken language in the world. Europeans do an excellent job teaching English in schools and many Asians can speak English as well. In travel, Americans know they will always be able to find someone who speaks English.

We have also fallen prey to television and movie portrayals of international business meetings in which multi-billion dollar deals are arranged by translators. It would be nice if Americans understood how much simpler it would be if we learned to speak the same language as our business associates. How much faster negotiations would go. How much more respectful it would be to make an effort. But a translator will always be available if necessary so we lean on this crutch until it has become a part of us.

Or perhaps we are all just holding our breath until the day comes when globalization has mixed all the world's languages into one super-language spoken by everyone.

Learn more about this author, Emily Ser.
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