Trump Administration’s first 100 days have come and gone, and the United States government seems more polarized as ever. White House policy directives, such a bans on immigration from majority-Muslim countries and a proposed overhaul of the Affordable Care Act have put Democrats and Republicans even more at odds. With what seems to be another two years of congressional gridlock up ahead, there seem to be few policy areas in which Republicans and Democrats may see eye to eye and be able to enact real change.
However, a recent report released by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences may prove otherwise. The report, commissioned by a bipartisan group of congress-members in 2015, relays an important message — the United States need to significantly increase access to language learning to remain competitive. According to the report, this gap in foreign language capability is hampering the U.S.’s ability to remain competitive on a global scale. Approximately 30 percent of U.S. business executives report having missed opportunities due to a lack of language skills among their staff. Moreover, 40 percent reported that language barriers prevented their companies from reaching international potential. Such a significant gap in foreign language ability among Americans prompts the question: are current foreign language education policies producing a sufficient number of language speakers to maintain the U.S.’s ability to engage effectively in arenas such as national security and diplomacy?
The answer seems to be no. Only 20 percent of Americans speak a second language as compared to 66 percent of Europeans. While foreign language study in the U.S. had largely been stagnant at low levels over the past thirty years, a 2013 study conducted by the Modern Language Association reported that foreign language enrollments in higher education had actually decreased for the first time since 1995. Reports released by the Central Intelligence Agency state that the lack of foreign language interpreters available to the federal government amounts to a national security crisis. To add insult to injury, foreign language education programs across the country are grappling with budget cuts and a serious shortage of foreign language teachers. Without the proper instructors, quality foreign language education for Americans is light years away.
The need for government intervention is essential. The federal government needs to devise a national strategy that will incentivize states and schools to create immersion and dual-language programs. Additionally, in regions with high levels of immigrants, it must develop policy that encourages heritage speakers to improve their language skills and present them opportunities to become foreign language educators.
Let us not allow political rhetoric that demonizes and scapegoats globalization stop us from investing in our nation’s future. No amount of political maneuvering will ever be able to reverse or even halt globalization. Foreign language capability is a bi-partisan issue that affects national security, diplomacy, trade, and economic development – aspects of American society that impact individuals, whether Republican or Democrat, in the United States every day. In a time of economic insecurity, foreign language ability is a tangible, highly valuable skill that can aid an individual’s job prospects by offering a competitive advantage in the global workforce. Politicians on both sides of the aisle must focus on ensuring that Americans are competitive in the global workforce by guaranteeing that their constituents have access to quality foreign language instruction.