Oxy needs more resources for language learning

237
Illustration courtesy of Miaja Lemieux

Nelson Mandela once said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” Language learning is integral to understanding other cultures and forming connections with people from around the world. It also supports the Oxy mission statement’s goal to prepare students for leadership in an increasingly pluralistic world. Given that the most powerful nations in the world speak a plethora of languages, it makes sense that Oxy students should as well. Oxy’s language requirement encourages students to develop their language skills, but its impact is limited because the departments’ resources aren’t as accessible as they could be.

Let’s start on the positive side: Oxy’s language requirement makes studying abroad more fulfilling. It gives students the language practice they need to interact with locals, thereby giving them a better understanding of their host country’s culture. While studying abroad, there are many opportunities to explore and form a relationship with the host city and the locals; language plays an integral role in these interactions. When I talked to study abroad returnees in preparation for my own study abroad, one of the common highlights was the connection they formed with host families and friends. These connections would have been much more difficult to make without practicing their second language.

Even if a student decides not to study abroad, being proficient in a second language is still advantageous for financial reasons. According to a study by the Economist, people with second language skills can earn anywhere from an extra $67,000 to $128,000 over their lifetime. Also, according to the Council on Foreign Relations, the English-speaking portion of global GDP is decreasing. The Chinese economy will surpass the U.S. economy in size soon after 2030, and Latin America is experiencing great economic growth as well. In the near future, English-speaking countries will have less economic power, which means that US companies will have increased interaction with foreign economies. Employees will have to learn more than one language in order to navigate this increasingly pluralistic work environment.

Although there are many benefits, becoming proficient in another language can also be a daunting project to take on. I speak from experience. I’ve been studying Spanish every year since I was in 6th grade, and I’m nowhere close to sounding like a native speaker. It’s also a lot harder to learn a language in college than it is to learn one as a child. According to a study from Cambridge University Press, it is significantly more difficult to obtain native-like fluency in a second language after puberty. This means students need additional practice and resources to learn a new language; in particular, they need opportunities to practice speaking.

There are resources on campus to help make language learning easier, but students only have access to these resources in the evenings. Language Peer Advisors (LPAs)— undergrad and visiting language assistants — currently hold programs such as drop-in hours and Snack and Chat from 6–7 p.m. But students are already busy in the evenings with sports practices, night classes and club meetings. Language conversation classes also conflict with mealtime. Speaking from my personal experience, I would have enjoyed my Spanish conversation class a lot more if I didn’t have to give up dinner with my friends two nights a week. Mealtime is an important time to recharge and take a mental break, so students shouldn’t have to choose between eating a meal at the Marketplace and other evening activities. If LPAs offered more varied drop-in hours and avoided programming during mealtimes, it could greatly benefit language learners at Oxy.

In addition to shifting hours away from mealtimes, there needs to be more easily accessible opportunities for students to practice their languages. It’d be beneficial to have language-based Themed Living Communities (TLCs) where every member is dedicated to speaking the target language within the community. Other colleges have already done so: Pomona, for instance, has the Oldenborg Center, a popular language-themed living space.

Having language specific tables in the Marketplace would be a fun way to casually practice a language while getting to know new people. These tables would have a sign that says what the target language is and offers a few starter phrases like “How was your day?” or “pass the hot sauce.” People who chose to sit at this table would agree to speak the target language, and there could be a language advisor or a student volunteer — perhaps for extra credit in an upper-level language course — overseeing the whole thing. It’d be ideal if these tables existed for all languages and were advertised to the Oxy community.

I can’t overstate the positive influence learning Spanish has had on my life: my first paid job was as a camp counselor at a Spanish immersion camp, and many of my favorite songs, TV shows and movies are in Spanish. I believe Oxy should expand its resources and opportunities for students who want to learn and practice languages. I hope, through expanding language opportunities at Oxy, more students will be able to use language to “touch the hearts” of others, as Mandela intended.

Margot Heron is a sophomore Critical Theory & Social Justice and Spanish double major. She can be reached at mheron@oxy.edu.

Loading