Sakeenah Dasti

COMM108

Persuasive Speech

4/15/2020

youtube link goes here

I. Introduction

By show of hands, how many people here can speak a second language?

According to a study done by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2016, 21.6 percent of the nation’s population over the age of five spoke a language other than English at home.

US Census Bureau. (2017, September 14). New American Community Survey Statistics for States and Local Areas. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/

newsroom/press-releases/2017/acs-single-year.html?CID=CBSM+ACS16

While the actual number of people who are multilingual globally is hard to determine, estimates indicate that at least half of the world’s population has the ability to speak two or more languages fluently.

Today I want to talk about those who take on the task of learning a foreign language, sometimes even as an adult.

As someone who can speak four languages at least at a conversational level of fluency, two of which were not my mother tongues, I firmly believe that everyone should put in the time and effort to learn a second language.

In this speech, I will inform you on where one can learn a new language, the advantages and disadvantages of learning a new language when older, and lastly why I believe that it is important to do so.

II. Body

First, let’s talk about where to start.

It’s important to note that in this day and age, people have endless opportunities to learn a language.

According to a 2017 study conducted by American Councils for International Education, 11 states have foreign language graduation requirements, which is an easily accessible opportunity for students.

American Councils for International Education. (2017, June). The National K-12 Foreign Language Enrollment Survey Report. Retrieved from americancouncils.org/sites/default/files/FLE-report-June17.pdf

Those who have already graduated can take classes at their local community college, community center, or even library.

And of course, there are a number of online programs such as Rosetta Stone, Babbel, and Duolingo, that guide students through as they self-study.

When I began to learn Norwegian in 2017, I was practicing a little bit everyday. I used YouTube videos, Duolingo lessons, and immersed myself in Norwegian culture through tv shows and music.

It’s important to take advantage of every opportunity you can find. 

Now that you know where to start, let’s move on to the pros and cons. Why should or shouldn’t you learn a language? 

Learning a language is no easy feat, and the older you are, the harder it gets. If you are taking it very seriously, you might prefer in-person classes. Those lessons cut into work and leisure time, and can become costly over time.

On top of all that, you might face psychological barriers as a non-native learner. According to research done by the National University of Malaysia, those who are learning a second language deal with “anxiety, lack of confidence and limitation of adjustment to the changed environment.”

Ahmed, M. K. (2019). Psychological Barriers in the Acquisition of Second Language: A Non-Native Perspective. E-BANGI Journal, 16(7), 1–9.

Knowing all this, you might be wondering, ‘Is it even worth my time?’ Most signs point to yes!

Research has shown that foreign language study improves cognitive abilities and results in higher standardized test scores, like the SAT.

Stewart, J.H. Foreign language study in elementary schools: benefits and implications for achievement in reading and math. Early Childhood Educ J 33, 11–16 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-005-0015-5

Being able to speak more than one language is also a huge academic and professional advantage! 

I talked to you about the advantages and disadvantages of learning a new language. Now let’s move on to why I believe you should put in the time and effort to learn a language other than your native tongue.

There is an incredible amount of research that proves learning a new language is advantageous for one’s cognitive health, but personally that isn’t why I choose to take them on.

For me, learning a new language is learning a new culture. Learning a new language is opening myself up to diverse ideas, peoples, customs, and arts. It is greeting the neighbour who lives down the road. It is being able to enjoy a thousand more films, television series, and literature. 

For some, committing to learning something new is not worth the time, money, or effort. But I wholeheartedly believe that you put into learning something is what you will gain back.

III. Conclusion

To sum up what I talked about today: there are innumerous opportunities for people who are willing to learn a new language. While some may find a disadvantage in the enduring process, there are many benefits to learning a foreign language. These benefits include improved cognitive abilities as well as increased employment options.

As you can see, learning a foreign language is one of the best decisions that you make in your life.

From where you are sitting right now, you can reach into your pocket, pull out your phone, and begin your own language-learning journey. 

I leave you with this: don’t be afraid to start now. Lykke til! (Good luck in Norwegian.)

References

Ahmed, M. K. (2019). Psychological Barriers in the Acquisition of Second Language: A 

 Non-Native Perspective. E-BANGI Journal, 16(7), 1–9.

American Councils for International Education. (2017, June). The National K-12 Foreign Language Enrollment Survey Report. Retrieved from https://www.americancouncils.org/sites/

 default/files/FLE-report-June17.pdf

Staff, T.E.D. (2014, November 4). How to learn a new language: 7 secrets from TED Translators. 

 Retrieved from https://blog.ted.com/how-to-learn-a-new-language-7-secrets-from-

 ted-translators/

Stewart, J.H. Foreign language study in elementary schools: benefits and implications for 

 achievement in reading and math. Early Childhood Educ J 33, 11–16 (2005). 

 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-005-0015-5

U.S. Census Bureau. (2017, September 14). New American Community Survey Statistics for 

 States and Local Areas. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press

 -releases/2017/acs-single-year.html?CID=CBSM+ACS16

Audience Analysis

My audience for the speech is our class. From my speech, I intend to persuade my audience to learn a foreign language. I chose our class as the audience because while this speech could technically apply to everyone, generally people who are in college have the time and opportunity to take language classes, whether that’s on campus or online. Also, our class is made up of mostly younger people and studies show that younger brains can learn things more easily.