Southern Illinois University – Andrea Hahn
“There are plenty of reasons to learn a foreign language: travel, business, diplomacy, for example. All the reasons, whatever they are, come back to understanding someone from a different place better and more directly, to learn about a culture more from the inside than merely as a spectator…“Foreign language study is important as it gives on the opportunity to consider a culture and a language different from one’s own,” Pamela J. Walker, Foreign Language Day coordinator and senior lecturer in American Sign Language, said. “That consideration is crucial to a liberal arts education. Also, it’s pretty difficult to study another language. I think that provides some exercise in humility that’s good for the soul, as well as really good exercise for the brain!””(more)