The English Language

A Malaysian government minister recently called for citizens to master the English language, following efforts by China and Taiwan, to provide for increased opportunity and competitiveness in the global marketplace. According to this report in The Star Online, at one large manufacturing plant in China, all workers, even the shop-floor employees, were taught to speak basic English in three years.

The plant research officers were also able to grasp the scientific information from materials written in English. This enabled the plant to manufacture and package its products to the specification required by America and other developed countries.

The Japanese are teaching English in high school yet see the need to focus additional effort to improve their language proficiency. According to a senior Matsushita senior executive,

"Today, we have branch offices in 45 countries and more than half of our workforce of 300,000 live abroad. English became extremely important for our employees and we now have a vast number of English-language training programs at all levels," he said.

At places like Nissan and Japan Telecom, the emphasis on English proficiency has been hastened by foreign chief executives who chair meetings and require reports to be done in English.

Besides the economic benefits, Japan's stature on the world stage is impacted by politicians being unable to communicate in English, the language of diplomacy.

The trend for foreign populations to emphasize English proficiency is understandable. It's necessary for trade and diplomatic communications across international boundaries. After all, the ability to sell a better mousetrap is greatly minimized if a person is unable to use the words "better mousetrap."

This foreign emphasis on English proficiency, however, is not exactly mirrored in the United States. It's dismally apparent that American educators and school administrators place the English language into a grab bag full of other equally important areas of knowledge. Students are taught about tolerance and diversity and racism and global warming. They learn about sex and alternative lifestyles and homelessness. Occasionally, they're taught the English language, but not always. According to this report on English language learners by Christine H. Rossell of Boston University, it's not unlikely that students will be awarded a New York State Regents High School Diploma without ever learning English. They are allowed to take the Regents Exam in their native language, with a bilingual dictionary, and all the time they need. It would be nice to know what benefit a high school diploma is if the person can't speak English.

So, while many in the world strongly spotlight English proficiency, educators and school administrators in the U.S. view it as one among many subjects to study and, sometimes, it's not even necessary. I think they're wrong. And, it seems the Malaysians, the Chinese, the Taiwanese, and the Japanese would agree. Teaching English should be a primary focus in American schools and leaders in education should be embarrassed.