It seems to me . . .
. . . that learning a foreign language is becoming ever more important in our ever-shrinking and globally
interconnected world.
Numerous universities and research groups can provide important academic, economic, linguistic, and brain
development studies, findings and recommendations, along with lists and reasons why every American
should study a foreign language. Studies from Washington State University, Michigan State, IU, Auburn
University, the Omniglot Project, etc., are some which I have recently perused. A well-learned foreign
language during high school years has also been advantageous for numerous CLHS graduates during their
college years, as many are able to test out of beginning language levels to meet requirements more cheaply, or
to more easily add a useful minor to their degree program.
All this runs contrary to the new Indiana graduation requirements, which, sadly, lowers the priority for
foreign language learning in Indiana. However, I like touting the “cultural bridge–building benefit” of learning another language, and learning it well. Previous generations of Americans have not always created the best reputation of America and Americans as they have travelled and lived in other parts of the world. Some cultures consider Americans to be rude, arrogant, greedy, overly capitalistic, unfriendly, and even closed-minded concerning non-American lifestyle, attitudes, and behaviors. “Well, that’s not how we do it in America.” This statement is degrading and derogatory to foreign ears. Other cultures have even assigned derogatory names for us Americans as they talk about us behind our backs. History readily teaches that America and Americans have not always helped to create a positive reaction in our dealings with our global fellow citizens.
At CLHS I teach four levels of German as a foreign language. It seems to me that our next generation must be
better at “barrier busting” to repair a bruised American reputation and many negative feelings about us in
the world. Here are some of my overarching goals for the students I spend time with:
- Begin to see and experience new meanings and nuance in your “mother” tongue.
- Knowing that proper language etiquette can be as important as the meaning of the words themselves, when
communicating to non-Americans. - Understand the context of the culture as it has evolved because of their history and geography.
- Seeing ways that cultural messages are also communicated through the cuisine, art, music, sports, and daily
life of foreign people. - Understand that each culture has strengths and weaknesses. No one culture or country does everything
“the best” or is “the greatest.” - Attempting to use their language is an important “barrier buster” even if your attempts are less than
perfect. - Visit a foreign culture with an open mind, reserving judgment about what’s right and wrong until much
later, after there has been time for serious reflection. - Experience a foreign culture by meeting the people, walking the streets, shopping in the markets, talking to
strangers, eating the foods, and experiencing a wide array of artistic expressions – not from a tour bus,
cruise ship and 5-star American hotels
It seems to me that the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) at CLHS affords a tremendous
opportunity for our students to bust the barriers of the American reputation. Every year CLHS German
students and German students from Lüdenscheid, Germay have an opportunity to spend a month living,
growing, learning, and building friendships together.
GAPP presents students the opportunity to travel to the host country as both an insider and as a tourist – the
best of all situations. As guests in Germany we get to participate in typical German family life, visit and
participate in school life, participate in city life: shopping, household chores, routine activities of daily life in
Germany. But we also get to participate as tourists, usually visiting Dortmund, Köln and Berlin as part of our
GAPP experience. As hosts we get to bust the barriers (stereotypes) that others may have built about us.
Currently, a group of CLHS students is preparing to travel to our partner school – Zeppelin Gymnasium in
Lüdenscheid, Germany (June, 2026). We are in our 41st year of partnership! Our students eat, drink, play,
socialize during school and outside of school time through a plethora of group sponsored events, as well as
the unique individual experiences gained from each host family. As each traveller is unique, so each
student’s experience is unique, and so is the patchwork of new exposure that our students will receive while
experiencing German culture and German people.
As Mark Twain said so profoundly “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of
our people need it sorely on these accounts.”
And as Rick Steves puts it, “Ideally travel broadens our perspectives personally, culturally and politically.
Suddenly, the palette with which we paint the story of our lives has more colors.” [Travel as a Political Act]
It seems to me . . . that more Americans need to get and to use a passport!