Speaking Beyond America:
The Reason Behind the Need for a National World Language Policy in the United States and Elimination of English-Only Policies
Unlike many countries, the United States does not have a national foreign language education policy in place. The lack of a policy is largely due to the fact that not everyone holds the belief that learning a second language language is necessary, especially with the rise of political conflict with immigration and the idea of patriotism.1 However, it has been proven that learning a second language is beneficial in many different aspects. Cognitively, being bilingual creates positive changes in neurological processes and structures. Being able to speak more than one language activates different parts of the brain and increases functionality of those areas. Knowing a second language also improves one’s ability to learn as they are able to process information at a quicker and easier rate. Lastly, knowing a second language can protect someone from age related disease, keeping their brain functioning at a high level longer than someone who is monolingual.2 In addition to the cognitive benefits, there are also the obvious social benefits of being able to communicate with more people, experience more cultures, and have more job and travel opportunities.3
The traditional discourse on the United States language policy has been framed in a way to give a either-or-choice to schools between English and world languages. With this way of framing the education, students and schools with a high minority population suffered. This way of teaching language in the United States goes back to the Native American boarding schools where English was the forced language of education. Throughout World War 1 and the early 1920s, English-Only policies were implemented for German students. During the 60s and 70s, there was support for world languages in schools; but since the 90s English-only policies reversed the progress made and now 28 states have an English-only policy. Only teaching English not only ignores linguistic resources in minority communities, but also negatively effects the education students receive and their sense of identity. 4
Learning a second language has many benefits and opens up many potential future opportunities for students. The decline in language education and lack of a national policy in the United States will only harm students and the education they will receive. The United States needs to create a national world language policy for K-12, promoting the idea of being bilingual because world languages are just as important as other key curricula that already have national policies implemented.
1“U.S. Educational Language Policy.” CAL, www.cal.org/areas-of-impact/language-planning-policy/u.s.-educational-language-policy#:~:text=Unlike%20many%20other%20countries%2C%20the,an%20official%20national%20language%20policy.&text=Foreign%20language%20teaching%20has%20generally,heritage%20language%20resources%20in%20communities.
2Administrator, Internal. “The Cognitive Benefits of Being Bilingual.” Dana Foundation, Dana Foundation, 11 Sept. 2019, dana.org/article/the-cognitive-benefits-of-being-bilingual/.
3“10 Benefits of Learning a Second Language.” Lead with Languages, 16 Jan. 2020, www.leadwithlanguages.org/why-learn-languages/top-ten-reasons-to-learn-languages/.
4 “U.S. Educational Language Policy.”
QUESTIONS:
- Is my thesis strong? Does it set up the argument well?
- Do you think I need to focus in on a topic more? Is my Intro all over the place?
- What do you think is the most interesting thing I discussed in my intro?
- Is my writing clear or does it just drag on and never get to a point?
- Does my title make sense? Thoughts on the title?
1). Comment on the title. How does it offer a way forward on the issue? Does it hint at or echo the paper’s thesis? Make suggestions.
The title of this piece clearly sets up what the rest of the paper is going to be about. It also effectively hints at what the thesis of the paper is too. The only thing I would suggest is possibly changing “The Reason Behind the Need for” to “Implementing”.
2). Does this piece’s title and introduction respond to an exigence? Does it make the issue pressing or connect to other pressing needs and issues? Make suggestions.
I think that this piece does respond to an exigence by saying that the US does not currently have one of these policies and the negative effects that currently has on students. I also think that the part where you followed the history of second language learning and where that trend has led us since the 90s is really helpful in making this issue urgent. The only thing I could suggest is maybe including a current statistic about second language learning.
3). Comment on the thesis. Does it set up a clear argumentative claim? Is it advancing a specific policy or practice? Can you imagine how the rest of the argument will unfold?
I think your thesis clearly identifies what specific policy you will be suggesting in your paper. I can definitely tell where you are going to go with the rest of your paper.
Additional Questions
1. Yes, I think your thesis is very strong.
2. I think your topic sets up the importance of learning a second language and by the time the reader gets to the thesis, everything really ties together. I like how you include factual information about the importance of learning a second language rather than assuming the audience knows that it is.
3. I was really interested in the history of the English-only policies you mentioned and how second language education has changed over time.
4. I think your writing is clear and presents the information in a direct way. While it is a lot of information, I think that when you get to the thesis everything really ties together very effectively.
1). Comment on the title. How does it offer a way forward on the issue? Does it hint at or echo the paper’s thesis? Make suggestions.
I think that title looks pretty good where it is at right now in terms of echoing not only the paper’s thesis but what the whole brief will be about. In saying that, I think that the beginning of it is a little wordy, and I noticed Anna’s comment about changing it to “implementing” and I would agree with that. I think that it does offer a way forward in that it is stating the need for a new policy and the elimination of old and out dated ones.
2). Does this piece’s title and introduction respond to an exigence? Does it make the issue pressing or connect to other pressing needs and issues? Make suggestions.
I definitely think that your piece thus far is responding to an exigence. That being the issue regarding how the US has no policy set in place for students to be learning more than just traditional English and how this negatively impacts not only us as students, but honestly the country as a whole. I think that you did a great job of formatting these opening paragraphs and I especially liked the one about the history and how we got to these english-only policies today. The last paragraph which includes your thesis does in a way make the topic seem more pressing, but I think that for this assignment, it would be best to maybe add another line or two that suggest why this is an issue we must be focused on improving now.
3). Comment on the thesis. Does it set up a clear argumentative claim? Is it advancing a specific policy or practice? Can you imagine how the rest of the argument will unfold?
Your thesis does set up a clear argumentative claim and I can definitely see where you will be advancing your paper. You did a great job of stating what your policy would look like and why these schools should be implementing it. Overall, I think the thesis lays out what the rest of the paper will look like greatly.
1. Is my thesis strong? Does it set up the argument well?
Yes, thesis is strong and I believe it sets up your argument well.
2. Do you think I need to focus in on a topic more? Is my Intro all over the place?
No I think you did a great job of focusing in on your topic while also providing the background that is used to understand the issue more. I think it all looks great.
3. What do you think is the most interesting thing I discussed in my intro?
I really enjoyed the history element of the piece so far. I know that this assignment is supposed to be a today kind of thing, but I am a history nerd and found it to be very interesting.
4. Is my writing clear or does it just drag on and never get to a point?
Your writing is very clear and concise. You made valid points all throughout each paragraph and it had a great flow to it. No need to change in my opinion.
5. Does my title make sense? Thoughts on the title?
Yes, the title does make sense. As stated above, I would change the beginning to implementing though!
Overall, looks really good Lily!
1). Comment on the title. How does it offer a way forward on the issue? Does it hint at or echo the paper’s thesis? Make suggestions.
I like your title, and I think it has solid validity. However as the others had suggested, I would change the reason behind part to the “implementing”. I think it will help create more of a policy aimed title and this will allow it to express action.
2). Does this piece’s title and introduction respond to an exigence? Does it make the issue pressing or connect to other pressing needs and issues? Make suggestions.
I think you do a great job at clearly laying out what you want to say. I also feel by showing the lack of policy and decline in second languages, it creates the moral for why policy would be good. Through your writing you crafted a sense of urgency that can be felt. I would suggest adding a little more about current numbers and or statistics, it will help build the relevance.
3). Comment on the thesis. Does it set up a clear argumentative claim? Is it advancing a specific policy or practice? Can you imagine how the rest of the argument will unfold?
I thought your thesis was very strong, and it shows what direction you will be taking.
Additional Comments
I am glad that you tied in the historical perspective. Additionally, I feel like this adds a little background to help preface. I am always so fascinated by policy and how it has grown to the current climate. Thus helping when displaying those alternating factors, which can prove beneficial in understanding a current situation.