According to the Guardian North America has long been the cradle of multiculturalism. This is especially true in the United States where hundreds if not thousands of different languages and dialects are spoken. As the melting pot of the world, no more so is true than in New York City. In fact, the Big Apple even has neighborhoods that are lined with countless ethnicities and languages. Still, English is the official language of the U.S.A and second only to Mandarin Chinese as the most spoken language in the world. With the advent of technology, however, the world is becoming smaller in almost every aspect. To effectively break down communication barriers between native speakers and new arrivals, the U.S. may need to adopt and implement secondary languages across the board.

Singapore Leads the World in Bilingual Education

While Spanish and French are taught at all grade levels, the U.S. needs to look at Singapore as a model for multi lingual studies and communications. In fact, the city state is proud of its bilingual and trilingual education system, which sees residents and citizens learning and speaking more languages on a daily basis. While the U.S. is known for its diverse and culturally rich population, it appears English is still the driving force that binds each people across vast lines. While it’s important to speak the official language, it is equally important to adopt and learn new languages as well. Not only does this expand educational horizons, it helps aspiring students tap into a world of new opportunities in various sectors.

Second Languages as Important as English

When it comes to multiculturalism, languages play a pivotal role at every turn. In fact, it’s the ability to communicate with others that fosters pluralism at its finest. From Chinese and German to Polish and Hindi, secondary languages continue to soar at alarming rates. In fact, they are no longer just relegated to ethnically diverse communities across the nation. These languages are now spoken as often and as frequently as English. This is especially true in the world of commerce and business, which has placed a strong emphasis on learning new languages to compete in this globally challenging and diverse market. According to Forbes Magazine, it’s almost like North America has been hit with a reverse form of linguistic outsourcing.

Learning New Languages is Essential

Whether for business or personal enrichment, learning new languages is no longer considered a luxury. With 3% of all literary works in the U.S. now with translated versions, that number is slated to rise with the arrival of new immigrants and foreigners. These new arrivals are also not just settling in the big cities and metropolitan centers of the nation. Like the smallest towns in England, main street America has been flooded by multiculturalism at all levels. In fact, it is so common to see Indian and Mexican restaurants right next to all American fast food franchises and retail establishments. There are also countless events held each year that celebrate the diversity of this great and expanding nation. If you truly want to be a global citizen, learning new languages is simply essential.