[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1573-E1574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN SCHOOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 1997

  Mr. BOB SCHAFFER of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this 
opportunity to share some essays written by Colorado students regarding 
the educational benefits of learning different languages from around 
the world. Education is key to the continued success of this great 
Nation, and it is good to know that these students realize this crucial 
factor.

     Matthew Weber, Shepherd of the Hills Christian School, Grade 2

       I think that kids should learn different languages, because 
     when they grow up, their job might be going around the world 
     and they probably won't know the language for the place they 
     are in if they don't learn when they are small, so that's one 
     of my thoughts. The other thought is that kids have fun 
     learning different languages.
       Here's another example, on Sunday a lady from Germany will 
     visit me and I will want to know German to talk to her. 
     Here's another example, I need to know more Spanish to talk 
     to my foreign language teacher.


       Malgosia Wilczkiewicz, Breckenridge Elementary, 5th Grade

       Languages around the world are important. Knowing another 
     language can help other people that come from other places 
     and don't speak your language. I came from Poland four years 
     ago and didn't speak any English. Luckily there was a Polish 
     boy that spoke Polish and could communicate to me and help me 
     with my work. Other reasons that it is important to speak 
     another language are because if you want to be an attendant 
     and get trips to other countries; you need to be able to 
     communicate with people. You need to talk to people to see 
     what they need or want. If you want to be a translator for 
     the President or someone else you need to know other 
     languages to translate. These are just some reasons why other 
     languages are important to me, but there are a lot more.


             Daniel Mc Vicker, Colorado Academy, 11th Grade

       I am an eleventh-grade student at Colorado Academy, and I 
     am concerned with the increased budget cuts in foreign 
     language programs of our public schools. Even though I am not 
     currently a public school student, I am concerned that, due 
     to the changing nature of social and business interaction in 
     the twenty-first century, our public schools will not be 
     competitive enough in the ``global village.'' Due to the 
     Internet, more people are communicating faster and more 
     easily and more cheaply with one another. Even now, we can 
     see the progression of business on the ``net.'' As other 
     countries become more advanced with their technology the web 
     will cease to be a solely English speaking dominated entity 
     and become more like what its name implies: ``World Wide.'' 
     Students without a firm foundation in a language (or two) 
     could easily become lost in the many business opportunities 
     available on this revolutionary communications network, and 
     lose out to other countries' students where part of the 
     curriculum is the study of another language.
       On a more personal note, my experience with learning French 
     (and previous to my time at Colorado Academy, German) has 
     been both pleasurable and helpful. Due to my exposure to both 
     languages, my English vocabulary has been enriched, my 
     knowledge of syntax and proper grammar has increased, and my 
     knowledge of history has grown as well. Also, the knowledge 
     of these two languages has been helpful in dealing with the 
     cultures of the countries that speak those languages, in my 
     visits to France and Germany. With an enhanced knowledge of 
     the culture (thanks to my classes), I was more easily able to 
     interact with the natives, utilizing another benefit of 
     studying a foreign language.
       Being knowledgeable of another country's culture is another 
     reason to study a foreign language. In this time of ``Global 
     Economy,'' not knowing about the idiosyncrasies of another 
     culture can be business suicide. Even with a translator, one 
     can still do things with the body that can be considered very 
     insulting to a foreign culture. If the person who 
     accidentally does these things is trying to negotiate a 
     business deal, he will have a lot of explaining to do if he 
     has insulted those with whom he is trying to negotiate.

[[Page E1574]]

       As to the pure enjoyment of discovering another language, 
     to that as well, I can attest. It is fun and exciting to 
     realize that you could communicate with someone across the 
     globe, or even just across the room. In our modern times, 
     expression is power and with the knowledge of another 
     language, one has twice as much of that power.
       Thank you for your time.

       ***P***Mr. Speaker, these are the words of the future of 
     America. School children are able to recognize the value of 
     knowledge and realize the power of having an advantage in the 
     real world. Foreign languages open up a world of 
     opportunities, and these children recognize that. I thank the 
     Speaker for allowing me to share the experiences of the youth 
     of America and the value of education.

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