With today’s economic and cultural trend toward globalization, learning a second language is an invaluable tool. Knowing a second language allows a greater understanding of a different culture and people, especially in areas where globalization is more prevalent.

But learning another language, especially beyond childhood, can be difficult and requires patience and perseverance. That’s why the DU language requirement should be increased to two full years of upper-level foreign language courses.

Currently, under the Common Curriculum, students need to take twelve credits or a three-course sequence in one language to satisfy the language requirement.

Depending on prior knowledge of a language, language tests administered by the Center for World Languages and Cultures allow some students to reduce that amount to as low as four credits, or simply one quarter-long class.
While a basic knowledge of a language can be an asset, it will certainly not benefit you as much as an advanced knowledge of the culture or the language.

Many students at DU will want to travel at some point in their lives. This travel will, given the opportunity, be to destinations all around the world. Being able to speak the native language of where you are gives you tremendous advantages over all those tourists who cannot. First, the locals will have more respect for you if you speak their language in their country. This will make them overall more friendly and helpful to you, a foreigner.

Second, you are less likely to commit any action that would be considered rude or inappropriate for the respective culture.

Further, some employers give greater weight to candidates who can speak multiple languages.

Employers recognize that speaking multiple languages increases your ability to interact with a wide variety of people and customers.

So, all of these advantages makes clear why learning a second language fluently can be so truly valuable.

Unfortunately, some people don’t recognize the advantage of learning languages in depth.

Then there are those who would love the opportunity to do so, but cannot find time in their schedules for the additional language courses.

Both of these problems could be solved if the language requirement were to be increased to two years.

Although there may be time problems, students would have to be able to fit them into their schedules and at the same increase their level of proficiency with the language.

Even if you are one of those people who struggle with learning a language, the more you practice at something, the easier it becomes, so spending another year on it will make it easier in the end.

Learning another language is such a priceless life tool, and increasing the language requirement at DU benefits everyone in the long run.