Sarah Waller, Scholarship Japanese and Classical Studies, class of 2020, came back to Westlake Girls High School last week to encourage our students to grow a love for languages. She is currently at the University of Auckland studying a BA (double majoring in German and Japanese)/Bachelor of Laws conjoint 

Here she shares her views on the importance of learning another language

Learning Japanese and German for five years at Westlake provided me with opportunities and skills that have benefitted me in my university studies. Learning a language connects you to the world and has provided me with lifetime opportunities that I otherwise wouldn’t have had. As a student at university, I am able to meet people from different faculties studying in different fields and at different age levels. Classes are smaller, and lecturers are more invested in their students. The language classes are a fun and friendly environment unique to the rest of the university. Additionally, studying a language at university not only improves language skills, but also includes courses on the politics, history, and geography of the target languages’ country which improves one competency in language.

At the end of Year 12, I went on a two-month exchange to Germany with two other Westlake students, and students from around the country. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity that improved my German skills and provided a chance to practice what I had learnt in the classroom in the real world. Immersing myself in the culture and language not only improved my speaking-skills but was also an opportunity to meet new people and gain valuable life-skills. While I was in Germany, I realized that the English-speaking world was far behind the rest of the world when it comes to language learning. In Germany, all the students learn French, Latin, and English from year 4, and in year 10 they have to learn either Italian or Spanish. All English classes were in English, as were the French and Latin classes. My Latin teacher could speak Japanese, English, French, Italian, Spanish and German and this was considered completely normal. According to a BBC report, 92% of European students study a foreign language, however in the UK this number is 20%. A Harvard university study states that in the US this number is 20%, and a Melbourne university study stated that in Australia only 23% of school students learn another language. NZ Herald reported that in New Zealand, again, only 20% of students learn another language.

Not only are we 5 years behind students around the world when it comes to learning a language, but 70% less students in the English-speaking world learn another language. Although this may seem like bad news, it actually works to the advantage of native-English speakers who are bilingual or multilingual. The reduction in language-learning in the English-speaking world has resulted in a subsequent increase in demand for multilingual employees in the US, UK, New Zealand, and Australia. A Forbes study stated that 60% of companies in California alone expressed a shortage of multilingual employees. The ICJ and the UN have a 10-year target of 40% of their top lawyers being ether bilingual or multilingual. UCLA studies surveying hospitals around the US found that there was a 45% increase in hospitals expressing a shortage of physicians and surgeons who could speak different languages, negatively impacting the doctor to patient relationship. The American Society of Civil Engineers stated that language learning was a “top priority” in the engineering sector in an increasingly globalised world. Clearly, language proficiency improves one’s employability and connects you to the world.

GOOGLE conducted a worldwide study of all their employees and found that 46% of their employees that had significant profiles and managerial roles were bilingual, trilingual, or multilingual.  They stated that those who were proficient in another language tended to have better people skills. Interpersonal skills are becoming increasingly important in the IT industry. GOOGLE stated that stem skills are becoming increasingly irrelevant with AI technology that can automatically code and program, but skills gained from learning languages cannot be replicated by AI.

All the evidence suggests that in a global world, language learning has become essential to communication and interaction with people from around the world.