The international community’s perception of ordinary Americans is many a time assessed by their first-hand experience with visitors from the US to their country. Can knowledge of a language prove or disprove a stereotype?
When tourists, students and businessmen show a sensitivity to local culture, language, and sentiments, they become more marketable in these times of globalization, and the lack of these qualities endorses the stereotype of Americans being ignorant of the world in general. The less- heeled American ( after all less than 25 percent even have a passport) is taken by surprise when they are not understood in a foreign country.
According to Martha G.Abbott, Director of Education for the American Council in the Teaching of Foreign LAnguages (ACTFL), knowing other languages and understanding other cultures is a skill set that American students need in the 21st century. ” No matter what career students enter, they will be interacting with others around the world on a routine basis and doing business locally with those whose native language is not English.”
According to Allen Stagl, a well-traveled American and French Professor at State University of New York at Oswego, it is most important to be aware of cultural differences before traveling. Language is a part of culture. ” I think it is generally true that people treat you better if you speak their language,” Stagl said.
” I found this in Spanish, Italian and German speaking areas, and I am not fluent in any of those languages. In France, you’re better off in French in most situations. Most Parisian restaurants have multi-lingual menus, but in some, if you don’t speak French you’ll get short shrift at best. However, most of my Paris students have never had French, and none have really been fluent. But they’ve generally been surprised and pleased with the responses from the Parisians who have been very helpful and even gone out of their way to help.”
Keith Davis, the program coordinator for the France study-abroad program, says that the refusal to speak French is perceived as an unwillingness to facilitate conversation, and by extension, to participate in their society.
What the world thinks of touring Americans
A lot of the world considers Americans to be ignorant and “snooty” because of their unwillingness to see beyond America. “Americans not only don’t know much about the rest of the world, we don’t care, or at least we didn’t before the terrible events of September 11, 2001.”" said Mark Hertsgaard, an independent journalist and author of ‘The Eagle’s shadow-Why America Fascinates and Infuriates the World. ” Until then, many Americans were barely aware the outside world existed, a fact that both exasperates and amuses foreigners.”
During most of the 20th century speaking a language other than English was not thought important and in some cased even discouraged. New immigrants to the land of Opportunities had to quickly learn to speak, read and understand American English. Their native language was all but relegated to the home or vanished for the subsequent generations..
But the turn of the 21st century has brought back the focus on being bilingual or even multi-lingual.
Growth of language studies is showing a marked increase since 9/11. Languages studies has grown by more than 17 percent, according to Rosemary Feal, executive director of the Modern Language Association
College Requirements
There are many schools around the U.S. that make it mandatory for students to take a few courses in a foreign language before studying abroad. For example, the study-abroad program through Columbia requires students to go through a rigorous six-week language class, along with classes on literature, politics, culture and cinema. Even Purdue University has language requirements for students. The program to Brazil requires that students have taken at least four semesters of either Spanish or Portuguese.
There are, however, some colleges where language requirements are not mandatory. A lot of programs through the University of Illinois study abroad are taught in English. Some of them require students to take language classes in the country of choice.
Advantages of Learning a New Language-
You can understand people talking next to you. You can have conversations with the locals and vendors at marketplaces. Servers at restaurants will be more friendly because they can understand you better. Travel will also be easier because many countries have directions and sign-boards at subway stations and bus stops in their local language.
” I have received numerous benefits by speaking French in foreign countries (and whatever language in a variety of countries,” said Justin Ledden, a lawyer living in Los Angeles. Ledden has also lived, worked and volunteered in about 60 countries.
“Servers treat you better. They appreciate the efforst, especially if you have demonstrated a competence that goes beyong a giggling bonjour and the like. I have also made friends and developed a few romantic relationships due to knowing the language. You can spend a decent amount of time talking to people, moving beyond superficial conversations and being a total outsider.”
One should try to speak the language of a country they are residing in for multiple months. At least, make an effort to pick up some phrases and learn basic conversation. English is known as the language of opportunity, but it might also be most beneficial to learn the local language. Language need not be a barrier; it is a wonderful tool to create a bonding experience. The behavior of few Americans abroad reflect on people’s overall impressions of Americans.
Nowadays, there are many tools that can help people learn conversational skills in a language reasonably easy. Language CDs, DVDs, books, audio tapes and even movies help people pick up and understand a language. There are also institutes around the U.S. such as Alliance Francaise and Goethe-Institut that offer short courses in learning French and German.
English Around the World-
Of course, the scale of the English language has increased multi-fold in the past few years. Its importance in Asia, South America and Europe is significant. Business is mostly conducted in English. A lot of students speak English, but do not always expect everyone to speak English, as this might not necessarily be true.
Language is an important part of culture. Talking in the local language means that you are making efforts to assimilate to the surroundings. If you are just visiting a country for a couple of weeks, then it is all right to not know the local language, but if you are staying in a country for months on end, it will be to your advantage to learn the local language. You have to make all efforts to adjust because no one else will adjust to you. Learn a new language and explore a new view of a different culture.
