Discussion: The value of mastering foreign languages

In what follows, we will try to provide some points for discussion when it comes to the concept of foreign language learning.

As the three articles state, there are different views when it comes to this topic:

Some people believe that learning a new language will prove to be of great value for the future and will come with great advantages in several areas for the speaker.

Others believe that learning one’s mother tongue (in our case, English) is more that enough, as learning another language will prove to be difficult and tedious.

First of all, consider the use of learning a new language. In which areas would a foreign language prove to be essential?

Think about travelling abroad and read Hughes’ example:

“I’ve just spent some time in the Far East, and during lazy afternoons by hotel pools or on beaches, I kept hearing English being spoken. But there were usually no Brits around – nor any Irish, North Americans, Australians or New Zealanders if it comes to that...