Are American students behind because they speak only one language as opposed to other countries who speak many

Answer 1

Americans are behind because the system has to prove the students are learning something. To do this they test, so the lessons revolve around what will be on the test. The students are too busy memorizing facts to learn to think for themselves.

Answer 2

I don't think "behind" is the word. Maybe spoiled? :-D

We are "required" to learn a second language in HS and college. However the learning here is merely memorizing things and not actually taking in anything. Unless you were taking up to AP or something, or REALLY determined, your chances of remembering anything in those classes are about as high my toe.

Learning a language is not intelligence, it's a TYPE of intelligence, just like knowing art, or being able to do math. Some people catch on quicker and some can't at all.

I believe languages are beautiful and I feel, as an American, that we should make languages more important when we are in school. I think we could learn just as well as other countries, if your classes were better and actually taught. I'm all for immersion, make classes with as little English as possible. In school, you take your 2 years, not to learn it, but to get passed the college requirements. Americans are going to have a big wake-up call when in some time, America changes and we start to feel stupid for not knowing at least 2 like the rest of the world.

Without realizing it, when we only learn English, we are conceited. People don't learn English in other countries because we are the "super power" (at least not the only reason), but because they're learning a bunch of languages and they have a bundle to choose from, not just Spanish and French. We're spoiled into thinking it's the only language tht we need.

Answer 3

No, it's more the fact that American schools teach to tests and children aren't learning all of the things they need really should cause teachers only stick to lesson plans that revolve around the material that will be on these tests. I speak four languages fluently and am learning a fifth, but I don't think it's helped that much, and as for Language requirements in schools I know that Language need only be taken one year and not at all in universities like the one that I attend.

Answer 4

Correct me if I am wrong, but I am under the impression that every American [public] high school student must take two years of a foreign language (almost always French or Spanish, in my experience) and every American university student must take two semesters (one year) of a foreign language?

In any case, I would argue that the advantages of learning another language for Americans are almost weighed in an economic light. Thus, Americans tend to study foreign languages when they would benefit bank accounts directly.

But then... I may not be the best person to speak on American monolingualism -- I speak several languages, one of which is considered "dead".

Answer 5

Simple answer: a person that learns more than it's mother tongue will develop more neurological connections in the brain, as opposed to someone who doesn't. It's also proven that someone who speaks more than one language is more open minded. Make your own conclusions on that.

Answer 6

no. i don't think that's the reason.

most other countries send the kids to school year round so they usually graduate a lot sooner then we would. very few people here want to send there kids to school year round. ( i know they tried it but it failed) as far as languages, there are some countries who speak more than one language but they are worse off then we are by far. i don't think it really matters how many languages we know. i think it's how lazy we are that makes the difference.

Answer 7

i think so. from my experience, students who speak more than one language tend to do much better in school. i think people are naturally more intelligent if they have the capabilities to know more than one language and be able to use them. i also believe than many american students feel it is pointless to learn a second language because english is spoken in so many different countries. i hope i answered your question well enough.

Answer 8

Because of that and because they have poor english writing abilities. Just look around and see how they write. Not only spelling. Forget about that if you want. Grammar is being lost.