2008 Woodie Awards
Letter: Languages not expendable
Issue date: 11/3/06 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
To the editor:
Ms. Van Meter's recent opinion article from 12 October promotes the study of social sciences, which might very well warrant consideration by the University community. However, her article proposes to advance this agenda at the expense of a cornerstone of liberal arts education: foreign language. The main fault of her argument is that it undermines liberal arts education by producing subjective evidence that social science studies constitute a more useful and desirable part of education than do foreign languages, or any other part of the GER.
The opinion states that Saint Joseph's University is in direct competition with Villanova University and Loyola College in Maryland to produce graduates whose education has been integral in their later success. It hints that these schools' social studies requirement gives their graduates an edge over Saint Joseph's students. While we do not advocate that social sciences be excised, neither of these schools requires more social science classes than does Saint Joe's. Furthermore, the opinion says that, "I've also heard that many employers (businesses, etc.) like social science courses..." This statement does not present us with well-founded facts, only generalizations without credible sources.
That foreign languages are an expendable portion of the GER is a patent falsehood. Foreign language has always been an integral part of education, and is highly emphasized in the Ratio Studiorum. The main evidence that foreign languages are prime for reduction is that the author learned little during her language studies. This must be refuted because this can hardly be blamed on her professors, the foreign language department, or that these classes are required. At the very least, language teaches one how to think in different ways, as well as encouraging education and The author further claims that foreign language has no application in most people's lives. From scholars to social workers to businesspeople, it is extraordinarily practical to be able to communicate in at least two languages. Globalization scarcely warrants debate. It is a process that has been ongoing for years and we can no longer expect the world to buy goods and services (whether they are material, spiritual, or intellectual) solely in English.
A liberal arts education is aimed at exposing students to a wide variety of disciplines, as well as the methodologies that are involved. This produces students who are capable of analysis with both depth and breadth. The purpose of curriculum review is not to emphasize one discipline over another, but to bring students to the realization that all of the University's disciplines are interconnected and have practical applications in the world.
Dominic Galante '07
Melanie Subacus '07
Co-signed:
Michael Kauffman '07
Conor Halstead '08
Zachary Hashmi '08
Elizabeth McCauley '08
Kevin Hensler '09
William Waters '10
Ms. Van Meter's recent opinion article from 12 October promotes the study of social sciences, which might very well warrant consideration by the University community. However, her article proposes to advance this agenda at the expense of a cornerstone of liberal arts education: foreign language. The main fault of her argument is that it undermines liberal arts education by producing subjective evidence that social science studies constitute a more useful and desirable part of education than do foreign languages, or any other part of the GER.
The opinion states that Saint Joseph's University is in direct competition with Villanova University and Loyola College in Maryland to produce graduates whose education has been integral in their later success. It hints that these schools' social studies requirement gives their graduates an edge over Saint Joseph's students. While we do not advocate that social sciences be excised, neither of these schools requires more social science classes than does Saint Joe's. Furthermore, the opinion says that, "I've also heard that many employers (businesses, etc.) like social science courses..." This statement does not present us with well-founded facts, only generalizations without credible sources.
That foreign languages are an expendable portion of the GER is a patent falsehood. Foreign language has always been an integral part of education, and is highly emphasized in the Ratio Studiorum. The main evidence that foreign languages are prime for reduction is that the author learned little during her language studies. This must be refuted because this can hardly be blamed on her professors, the foreign language department, or that these classes are required. At the very least, language teaches one how to think in different ways, as well as encouraging education and The author further claims that foreign language has no application in most people's lives. From scholars to social workers to businesspeople, it is extraordinarily practical to be able to communicate in at least two languages. Globalization scarcely warrants debate. It is a process that has been ongoing for years and we can no longer expect the world to buy goods and services (whether they are material, spiritual, or intellectual) solely in English.
A liberal arts education is aimed at exposing students to a wide variety of disciplines, as well as the methodologies that are involved. This produces students who are capable of analysis with both depth and breadth. The purpose of curriculum review is not to emphasize one discipline over another, but to bring students to the realization that all of the University's disciplines are interconnected and have practical applications in the world.
Dominic Galante '07
Melanie Subacus '07
Co-signed:
Michael Kauffman '07
Conor Halstead '08
Zachary Hashmi '08
Elizabeth McCauley '08
Kevin Hensler '09
William Waters '10
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