Roll the Dice

In Valparaiso, after the bus ride west, we made our way through the city and ate lunch at a small resto-bar as they are generally called throughout the city. Sitting there, sipping cool water and soaking in the pleasant rays of the sun. Conversation naturally followed as we began to recover from walking the windy streets of the South American San Fran. We discussed our different reasons for participating in EODP (English Opens Door Program) and how we ended up in Chile. Change, traveling, teaching were the common themes. The conversation then turned and we began talking about our travel plans that we have for and other "bucketlist things".

Finally, a moment came in the conversation allowing me the chance to ask a question that's constantly on my mind: "So, do you think kids in other countries should learn English?". There's a danger in asking this question. It makes everything about doing this kind of scary. Everyone stopped and thought. Then after a short while, one of the other volunteers offered this, "I dunno, I've asked myself that a lot. I think it's a tough issue, are we just imposing our (USA) own prerogatives?" Another volunteer then said that students shouldn't be forced to learn English. Lastly, another that the class does provide students with more opportunities. There it is, that very real uncertainty like rolling dice or flipping coins.

On the one side, learning a foreign language is great because it can help you to communicate with people from many different parts of the world. For instance, I met a Chilean engineer keen on learning English so that there might be some connection between him and Chinese engineers he interacts with. It is true that when people from other countries meet the common bond is often English. Learning English is particularly ideal, because it is the most widely spoken language in the world with over 2 billion people (including first, second, and language speakers) and it's the official language for international business.

Conversely, learning another language is really difficult, especially if you're being forced to learn it and the likelihood of you using it is very small. Chilean students if they are successful in learning English will join a small demographic roughly (11% of the 17, 269, 525). If you're going to live in Chile, you really ought to know Spanish... Oops, I dropped the ball on that one, but I'm learning!

Now, with these things in mind, is learning English meaningful? There are some people who just love to learn, and for them English might be great. For others who might live in Chile their whole life it might not be particularly useful unless directing visitors or hosting visitors. However, the same can be said for any subject. Not everyone will be a mathematician, but an elementary grasp of mathematics will most certainly be useful for many situations. At the end of the day, it is what is. As long as I have one student who wants to learn English there is a reason to teach it, and the answer to that ladies and gentleman, only time will tell.