‘My deepest wish is that our Country’s people can naturally speak their own language’ said Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. However, these days people are learning other languages. For example many Korean mothers have children, and push them to study English or other languages. This situation is not unusual, because many Countries are changing their minds and learning other languages, because they are told that it is necessary for understanding other cultures and their surroundings. It has become a serious part of household discussion. However, these days this pattern is starting to change in developed countries. We can easily hear people discussion their knowledge of France. Since early times in its history, this country is famous for protectionist policies about it's own language. For example, people will visit Paris and ask a French person, for directions in English or another language. The French person will not answer them or express an ‘I do not know, what you are saying’ gesture. The French are changing their minds about this issue, but still, they are a good model to illustrate protectionist preferences about their mother tongue. Problems with protectionist preferences is now changing in France and they are beginning to flexibly accept other languages. In contrast, the United States recently denounced the idea that the national anthem, Star Spangled Banner, be sung in Spanish. The anthem is a hit in the music stands, but is sung in Spanish by a Spanish immigrant, who respectfully wants to honor the song. This song represents America’s national anthem, and has become a matter of legalistic debate among American politicians. The court made a decision, which has come into legal affect and been given notice that it is now illegal to sing the American Anthem in a foreign language. The America Anthem can only be sung in English. Some US Senators do not agree with this result. One senator said ‘Our constitutional law is to insure the security of people right to a “freedom of propose”. This resolution limits patronage to a language, this is against the stream of freedom and unity that is representative of America. Examples like this, seems to be something rather funny and a contradiction to today’s thoughts of becoming global. A whole world of people, students and/or workers are making diligent efforts to studying other languages, and it is necessary for various reasons. For example, trips to other Countries, we need to know the nation’s language. In the case of Corea, people learn other languages from childhood, though television, other broadcasting organizations, and citizen’s political parties are emphasizing the need to learn and correctly use Corean. Five or six years ago, Japan made English a common law, and Corea followed this. It is a show of Globalization strategies. Now many developing Countries are recognizing the necessity of multilanguage abilities, and have started programs for students to learn other language.
What is the most important hardship for us? Most university student will say, the biggest hardship is English, or these days, we are leaning Chinese. Many southeast Asian countries are learning Korean because the ‘Hallyu’. Because people enjoy another country’s culture, many people want to learn that foreigners language, and the governments are supporting this current trend. Learning for better International relationships can be the reason for this condition.
Of course, we need to know other languages and our mother language, but think about what is most important for us. Sometimes, people do not need to learn a foreign langauge, but they are learning anyway because it is only commonly sense in our new global world. People have many special qualities and differences that make them special for good experiences, so they do not want to be lacking in an unambiguous plan.
Korean, English, French, Japanese and many other languages still exist as major languages of the world, and the world continues to be in competition, so it is rigorous for people to learn a language.
