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Foreign Language Ramblings: Why are Foreign Languages Not Mainstream?

These are just a few thoughts I’m having about learning a foreign language. So I apologize in advance for the unorganized or spacey feel this may have because I will most likely go on a tangent or two.

Why are foreign languages not main stream. I mean we all love foreign foods, foreign cars, everyone dreams of a boyfriend of girlfriend with a foreign accent, foreign vacations, and foreign fashion. So why do we not love foreign languages? Is is something innate within most of us to have a natural dislike or apathy regarding foreign languages? I mean all Americans are foreigners, with obvious exceptions to Native Americans but it’s speculated that they are even foreigners if we go back far enough, we are all, pardon my French “pun intended”, mutts. Personally I am a Euro-Asian-American. My best friend is all kinds of confused and is Native American, African American, Dutch, Welsh, and something else but doesn’t remember.

So with this rich culture and history do we not have a natural affinity for foreign languages? I mean we love to visit them but not enough to communicate with the people there. Possibly it’s not apathy but just ignorance to the all the pleasure and enjoyment one gets from speaking a second language. Not only that but lets face people that speak a second language are a lot smarter. *At least that’s what I tell myself. Also, an informal questionnaire how many of you language lovers out there are also good with Math? I don’t know anyone who is a language person who is also a Math person. Give me some feedback on that in the comments section. But really there is so many benefits professional and personal from learning a foreign language. I mean for one if anyone here is the least bit social we all like having friends and speaking a second language only expands the number of eligible people who can be your friend. But if you don’t like people and live in a cave and only come out at night time then ignore my previous argument.

So why are foreign languages not mainstream? However lots of mainstream people speak foreign languages. Robin Williams speak French, Mike D’antoni (coach of the Phoenix Suns) speaks Italian, Salma Hayek speaks Spanish (obvious). Add some other well known people here.

Let us know your thoughts.